Today, the presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan launched the Shavat-Dashoguz Joint Border Trade Zone online via conference call from Tashkent.
The two leaders expressed confidence that the trade zone would contribute to the expansion of trade and economic relations between Khorezm province of Uzbekistan and Dashoguz province of Turkmenistan—two key provinces with a combined population of over 3.5 million people.
In addition to a trade pavilion and warehouses, the zone will house administrative buildings for the directorate, customs, quarantine, phytosanitary, and veterinary services.
It will offer one-stop government services and interactive systems, as well as banking, medical, and hotel services.
Apart form the state visit, Serdar Berdimuhamedov also attended the Central Asia Summit. During the talks between the heads of state that same day, the parties explored the ways to expand the friendship, good-neighborliness, and strategic partnership ties between the two countries.
In particular, they discussed increasing the two-way trade and promoting effective cooperation in industry, energy, transport, mechanical engineering, agriculture, and water management. An agreement was reached to hold the third Forum of Provinces in Khiva.
Reportedly, the bilateral trade has doubled in recent years, reaching $1.15 billion last year and approximately $500 million in the first half of 2025.
The presidents pointed to the potential to increase this figure to $2 billion by expanding the range of goods and effectively utilizing the free trade regime.
The practice of Shavat-Dashoguz border trade zone could to be expanded to other territories, primarily in Alat district (Bukhara province) – Farap district (Lebap province).
