The state visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, to Uzbekistan, the signing of the "Treaty on Allied Relations" within the framework of the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, and the ground-breaking of major joint projects mark the beginning of a new stage in the economic architecture of strategic alliance between the two countries. This active integration model, forged at the level of state, government, industrial institutions, and regions, is becoming the primary driving force behind the economic development not only of the two nations, but of the wider region as a whole.

In an era characterized by a highly complex landscape across global supply chains—namely, disruptions along traditional Northern routes and ongoing geopolitical sensitivities in the South—the reliable infrastructure established by Azerbaijan is of critical importance. Under the current realities, where opportunities for secure freight transport between East and West have narrowed, Azerbaijan has transformed into a reliable and sustainable "Geoeconomic Stability Corridor" for international trade. For developing nations that lack direct access to open seas, such as Uzbekistan, the institutional, transport, and transit stability provided by Azerbaijan holds exceptional significance. Concurrently, this established corridor serves as an unimpeded and rapid gateway for Azerbaijani exporters into Central Asia's largest consumer market.

The "Program on Increasing Trade Turnover to 1 Billion US Dollars by 2030" and the "Practical Action Plan (Roadmap)" are the most pivotal documents defining the scale of this partnership. These documents serve as concrete operational guidelines for business circles, exporters, and logistics companies. The implementation of the Roadmap will ensure the optimization of customs and transit procedures, the promotion of mutual investments, the regulation of logistics costs, and the establishment of joint value chains within industrial cooperation.

Digitalization plays a particularly crucial role in achieving the 1-billion-dollar target. Reaching this turnover volume through traditional trading methods requires substantial time. Therefore, expanding e-commerce and integrating B2B platforms are imperative. The "Azexport.az" portal is already actively operating in this direction. The portal functions as a digital guide in the mutual promotion of products across the Uzbek and Azerbaijani markets, identifying export partners, and establishing reliable trade relations. The new Roadmap provides extensive opportunities to scale these operations further, accelerating trade turnover through the electronic exchange of certificates and e-commerce channels.

The set targets are already reflected in tangible, practical outcomes and economic indicators. As President Ilham Aliyev noted, achieving a 1-billion-dollar trade turnover is not a distant vision, but a target attainable within the next few years. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev underscored this dynamic by stating that the volume of bilateral trade has tripled over the last five years, with the total portfolio of joint projects exceeding 5 billion dollars. According to the results of January–June 2026, imports from Uzbekistan totaled 102.3 million US dollars over the six-month period, while exports to this country reached 73.3 million US dollars. The most notable factor here is the shifting dynamic and the rapid strengthening of our market position: compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the export of domestic goods to the brotherly country increased by 259.2 percent. Driven by this breakthrough, Uzbekistan has now become Azerbaijan's 3rd largest export partner among CIS countries, following Russia and Ukraine.

The inauguration and ground-breaking ceremonies held in Tashkent with the participation of both heads of state serve as clear evidence of these achievements. The implementation of the "Davr Bank" project, the launch of the "Matanat-A" gypsum plant, the commissioning of "Landau" STEAM schools, along with the ground-breaking ceremonies for SOCAR filling stations, the "Sea Breeze Uzbekistan" and "Baku City" residential complexes, the "Sur Gold and Silver" processing plant, and the "Gold Fresh Fruits" intensive orchards, demonstrate absolute economic confidence and high-level cooperation between our nations.

The direct involvement of key regions such as Tashkent, Bukhara, and Namangan in these economic processes indicates that bilateral relations have penetrated the deepest layers. The existing joint investment fund, the emerging "Geoeconomic Stability Corridor," and the new Roadmap encompassing the 1-billion-dollar target open broad horizons for local exporters to solidify their presence in the Uzbek market and strengthen their positions across the global trade network.