Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are of key importance for Uzbekistan in terms of transport and logistics, since the two countries are important participants in the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian transport route), the Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov told the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
“Uzbekistan's relations with these countries in the transport sector are currently developing “very successfully and favorably.” Following the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan trilateral summit, the parties signed a memorandum on transport and logistics cooperation,” the minister said.
The memorandum provides for the setting up of joint transport and logistics industries companies.
The Minister emphasized that the policy of the President of Uzbekistan allowed reducing transportation costs for domestic manufacturers and shippers, and also opens up opportunities for finding new routes.
Separately, Makhkamov reported on agreements with Turkmen colleagues in the field of shipbuilding. He and the Deputy PM of Turkmenistan Memmetkan Chakyev signed a MoU on the development of cooperation in the field of shipbuilding.
"We signed a MoU with our Turkmen colleagues on the development of shipbuilding. As for Uzbekistan, today we are planning to operate ferries on the Caspian Sea. Given the increase in transportation via the Caspian Sea, there are congestions, 30-40-day congestions, and further operation of ferries on the Caspian Sea will allow us to quickly transport Uzbek cargo across the Caspian Sea," the minister said.
According to him, there is a shipyard in Turkmenistan, like in Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan is considering the possibility of acquiring ships.
"Today we agreed that we would analyze and consider purchasing ships at these shipyards. It is necessary to work out all the technical issues, but today's document will allow us to freely work out all these technical and economic issues," he concluded.
In September last year, the Trend publication, citing a source, reported that Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan were planning to set up joint production of ferries. The project financing is estimated at $150 million.
It was reported in July 2023 that Uzbekistan was planning to build and lease long-term sea terminals and warehouses in Georgian seaports.
Uzbekistan is also increasing forwarding via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as the “Middle Corridor”). Its route runs through Kazakhstan, the port of Aktau (Caspian Sea), Azerbaijan (Baku) and Georgia (Batumi, Poti) to reach European markets.
Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov said in November 2024 that this year it was planned to take measures to employ more than 200 thousand countrymen in 21 economically developed countries, such as Germany, Great Britain, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Israel, Canada, Poland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others.
