On September 29, 2020, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A. Aripov and Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan K. Rasulzoda chaired the 7th meeting of the Uzbek-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation during the visit of the Government Delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

The meeting also involved the heads of relevant ministries, departments, industry associations, joint stock companies and business associations of the two countries.

During the meeting, the parties thrashed out current state and further expansion of bilateral cooperation in investment, trade, financial and banking, scientific and educational, tourism, cultural and humanitarian areas.

An open dialogue of the heads of governments provided clear identification of mutual interests for further in-depth interaction, specific steps to accelerate the promotion of joint projects and agreement on a format for further interagency cooperation.

During the meeting, the participants noted the significant spare capacity in the investment cooperation. The parties agreed to jointly collaborate new industrial projects in light, food, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals and the production of construction materials.

They also emphasized that despite the growth in trade between the two countries in recent years, there are massive opportunities for a multiple increase in the mutual trade on a balanced and mutually beneficial basis through the expansion of a range and supply of products manufactured in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Consequently, the parties agreed on further measures to ensure the growth of mutual trade, including expert consultations to develop measures aimed at simplifying trade procedures, mutual elimination of existing barriers and diversification of the structure of trade, discussion on the arrangement of trading houses in both countries.

The discussion of the prospects for further built up of cooperation in the transport and logistics sector made parties agree on the need to optimize customs and border control procedures, as well as to implement joint projects for the construction, modernization, and equipage of railway infrastructure facilities.

The meeting also considered a wide range of issues related to systemic cooperation in education, science, health care, tourism, cultural exchange, sports, migration, and employment of the population.

After the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, there was the Uzbek-Tajik business forum resulted in signing of 308 investment and trade agreements totaling USD 724 million.