The state visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, to Uzbekistan, the signing of the “Treaty on Eternal Friendship” within the framework of the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, and the launch of important joint projects mark the beginning of a new stage in the economic architecture of the strategic alliance between the two countries. This active integration model, taking shape at the levels of the state, government, industrial institutions, and regions, is becoming a key driving force not only for the economic development of the two countries but also for the broader region as a whole.

Commenting on the issue, Ayxan Gadashov, Head of the “Azexport.az” portal of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, stated that at a time when the global supply chain landscape is highly complex, with traditional routes in the northern direction disrupted and geopolitical sensitivities in the southern direction persisting, the reliable infrastructure established by Azerbaijan is of decisive importance. In the current reality, where opportunities for secure freight transportation between East and West have become increasingly constrained, Azerbaijan has emerged as a reliable and sustainable “Geoeconomic Stability Corridor” for international trade. For landlocked countries such as Uzbekistan, which are developing but have no direct access to the open seas, the institutional, transportation, and transit stability offered by Azerbaijan is of exceptional importance. At the same time, this corridor provides Azerbaijani exporters with an unhindered and rapid gateway to Central Asia’s largest consumer market.

A. Gadashov noted that the “Program for Increasing Bilateral Trade Turnover to USD 1 Billion by 2030” and the “Practical Action Plan (Roadmap)” are the most important documents defining the scale of the partnership. These documents provide concrete guidelines for businesses, exporters, and logistics companies. It is expected that 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 creation of joint value-added chains within the framework of industrial cooperation.

The head of the portal particularly emphasized the role of digitalization in achieving the USD 1 billion target: “Achieving this level of trade turnover through traditional methods of buying and selling takes time. Therefore, the expansion of e-commerce and the integration of B2B platforms are inevitable. The ‘Azexport.az’ portal is already actively operating in this area. The portal serves as a digital guide for promoting products in the Uzbek and Azerbaijani markets, identifying partners in export processes, and establishing reliable trade relations. The new Roadmap creates broad opportunities for us to further scale up this activity, accelerate trade turnover through the electronic exchange of certificates and e-commerce channels.”

Emphasizing that the targets set are already reflected in practical activities and economic indicators, A. Gadashov recalled that, as President Ilham Aliyev also noted, the USD 1 billion trade turnover target is not a distant dream but a result that will be achieved within a few years. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in turn, stated that bilateral trade had tripled over the past five years and that the total portfolio of joint projects had already exceeded USD 5 billion, highlighting the momentum of development. The head of the portal added that “according to the results of January–June 2026, imports from Uzbekistan amounted to USD 102.3 million, while our exports to this country amounted to USD 73.3 million over the six-month period. The key point here is the difference in dynamics and the rapid strengthening of our position in the market. Compared with the same period last year, exports of our domestic products to the brotherly country increased by 259.2 percent. It is precisely due to this surge that Uzbekistan has now become Azerbaijan’s third-largest export partner among CIS countries, after Russia and Ukraine, in terms of the volume of products exported.”

The opening and groundbreaking ceremonies held in Tashkent in the presence of the leaders of both countries provide a tangible demonstration of these developments. The implementation of the “Davr Bank” project, the launch of the “Matanat-A” gypsum plant, the commencement of operations of “Landau” STEAM schools, as well as the groundbreaking of SOCAR fuel stations, the “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan” and “Baku City” residential complexes, the “Sur Gold and Silver” processing plant, and the “Gold Fresh Fruits” intensive fruit orchards demonstrate the high level of economic trust and cooperation between our countries.

In conclusion, A. Gadashov stated that the direct involvement of important regions such as Tashkent, Bukhara, and Namangan in economic processes demonstrates that bilateral relations have already penetrated their deepest levels. The existing joint investment fund, the emerging “Geoeconomic Stability Corridor,” and the new Roadmap incorporating the USD 1 billion target open broad horizons for local exporters to consolidate their position in the Uzbek market and further strengthen their position in global trade networks.