At a press briefing in Ashgabat, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan Akmoljon Kuchkarov noted a significant increase in trade turnover between the two countries. According to him, in recent years it has increased more than 5 times and in 2023 reached 1 billion 94 million dollars, reports SNG.Today.

The diplomat emphasized that friendly relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are based on common historical, cultural and linguistic ties between peoples. A new stage of cooperation began after the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2017 and the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

– In the period from 2017 to 2023, there was a more than fivefold increase in mutual trade volumes. At the end of 2023, it amounted to 1 billion 94 million USD. To track the dynamics of growth, I will say that according to the Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2022, mutual trade turnover was 920 million, that is, the increase was about 10%, - the ambassador said.

Kuchkarov also noted the intensification of interregional ties and the work of the business council of entrepreneurs of the two countries. Positive dynamics continued after the election of Serdar Berdimuhamedov as President of Turkmenistan, and parliamentary, popular and youth contacts expanded.

According to the Uzbek diplomat, mutual visits by high-level delegations are expected this year, which once again confirms their commitment to strengthening not only bilateral cooperation, but also regional integration in Central Asia.