Turkish Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Uzbekistan Olgan Bekar said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Uzbekistan in the coming days, with one of the main items of bilateral agenda being the raising of the two-way trade to $ 10 billion.

“Turkey was the first country to recognize the brotherly Uzbekistan’s independence and opened the first diplomatic mission in Tashkent. On March 4, 2022, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. No matter how gratifying the current level of our ties, which we have described as a “fraternal-based strategic partnership,” we realize that we still have a long way to go together as two fraternal states when we strive to tap our enormous potential. It is our priority to maintain the momentum in our relations, especially over the past five years, thanks to the courageous and resolute steps of our presidents,”said the ambassador, who met with journalists on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Olgan Bekar also took a question about how much the two countries are tapping their trade potential.

“The record figure in trade, which stood at $ 2.3 billion in 2019, was renewed in 2021 at $ 3.6 billion.

But Uzbekistan and Turkey have more potential. It should also be noted that despite the pandemic, the numbers are growing. Important import-export balance is important in bilateral relations. For example, in 2021, half of the $ 3.6 billion trade turnover between our countries was accounted for by imports and the other half by exports.

At the last meeting of the two leaders, the goal was to increase the trade to $ 5 billion. It was later revealed that it has the potential to reach $ 10 billion, and we are working to reach those numbers in the near future.

Negotiations are currently underway to establish a customs, tax and free trade zone. One more thing, we can’t force businesses and investors, they need a comfortable environment. Then they will come. Our embassies and the Uzbek-Turkish business community are trying to increase economic cooperation and familiarize business with the conditions,” Olgan Bekar said.

The ambassador also said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to visit Uzbekistan in the coming days.