President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his address at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg, as a leader of an observer state, outlined priorities for expanding Uzbekistan's cooperation with the EAEU on Sunday.
"Against the backdrop of the growing fragmentation of global markets, the increasing complexity of supply chains, and shifting priorities in the allocation of investment resources, deepening pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union—our strategic and natural partners—is of fundamental importance to us".
“The phased lifting of trade barriers remains a key objective. We believe it is necessary to intensify coordination between CIS and EAEU institutions to align approaches to technical regulation, sanitary, and phytosanitary standards."
“We propose developing a roadmap to lift redundant procedures and standardize requirements. To promptly resolve issues related to differences in technical regulation, certification, and customs administration, we suggest to create a joint Uzbekistan-EAEU coordination group on tariff and non-tariff barriers.”
“Uzbekistan places special emphasis on developing industrial cooperation, the president continued. He proposed jointly developing a list of projects in mechanical engineering, energy, agro-industrial complex, chemical, and other industries.”
"In connection with Uzbekistan's accession to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), it is advisable to jointly identify strategic areas of partnership and develop a roadmap covering priority infrastructure and green projects, as well as support for small and medium-sized businesses," he said.
“Uzbekistan advocates for stronger cooperation in digital technologies. "We propose developing a roadmap with the Eurasian Economic Commission for the integration of digital platforms, including e-commerce and digital labeling".
“Digitization of customs administration and the transition to a seamless freight transportation model are also priorities.”
“Uzbekistan seeks to join the EAEU's technology platforms, covering areas such as biomedicine, new materials, agricultural technology, energy, and robotics”.
“Furthermore, the country is ready to participate in the development of an integrated information resource in the tourism sector.”
"This approach will ensure the integration of our countries' tourism products," noted Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Uzbekistan has been an observer in the EAEU since December 2020. Over the past four years, Uzbekistan's trade with EAEU countries has almost doubled.
The summit, chaired by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, was also attended by the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The heads of EAEU observer states—Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian—delivered a video message. Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso represented the invited state.
