Pakistan-Uzbekistan Economic Ties Strengthen as New Firms Register in Tashkent

In a landmark shift for regional trade, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, revealed that 80 companies of Pakistani origin have registered in Uzbekistan over the past year. This brings the total number of Pakistani firms operating in the Central Asian nation to 228, signaling a robust new era of bilateral business engagement.

The announcement came during a high-level meeting on Tuesday between Minister Kudratov and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal. The two leaders reviewed the current trajectory of economic cooperation and agreed on a roadmap to accelerate investment, connectivity, and sectoral partnerships.

Strategic Trade Goals and $2 Billion Target

With bilateral trade growing by 10% last year—fueled by a 12% rise in Uzbekistan’s imports from Pakistan—both nations have set an ambitious target to reach $2 billion in bilateral trade. This growth will be supported by deeper industrial cooperation and streamlined logistics to bridge existing market gaps.

Priority Sectors for Investment

Minister Kudratov highlighted that Uzbek companies are particularly eager to explore the Pakistani market, with a focus on:

• Food Security & Agriculture: Specifically meat production and rice cultivation.
• Industrial Manufacturing: Textiles, leather, and pharmaceuticals.
• Natural Resources: Mining and specialized industrial cooperation.
• Value-Added Goods: Enhancing the quality and reach of manufactured exports.

High-Level Diplomatic Momentum

Minister Jam Kamal emphasized that the frequency of high-level contacts over the past two years has laid the groundwork for significant economic gains. “Our priority now is to ‘materialize’ these opportunities by closing gaps in logistics and implementation,” Kamal stated, reaffirming Pakistan’s full support for Uzbekistan’s trade development initiatives.

Minister Kudratov also confirmed that preparations are underway for an upcoming high-level state visit from Uzbekistan, which is expected to serve as a milestone in formalizing new sectoral collaborations and investment treaties.

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Strengthening Regional Connectivity

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to balancing trade scales and enhancing business-to-business (B2B) linkages. By focusing on specialized industrial zones and improved transportation corridors, both countries aim to transform the region into a hub for transcontinental trade.

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