Uzbekistan has a strong relationship with its partners in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Its goals include expanding trade, economic and investment ties, improving competitiveness in the global market, developing transport corridors, industrial cooperation in the region, utilizing existing opportunities, and creating new routes.
Last year, Uzbekistan’s trade with the ECO countries saw a major increase of 35.1 percent, reaching $11.2 billion. This year, the trend continued, with trade turnover increasing by 10.4 percent and amounting to $12.4 billion. The ECO countries make up 24.7 percent of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade. Exports totaled $5.75 billion, which is 6.3 percent higher than in 2021. Imports grew by 14.3 percent, amounting to $6.62 billion. 29.8 percent of all exports came from the ECO countries.
Kazakhstan had the largest share of trade, at 37.5 percent, followed by Türkiye (26.3 percent), Kyrgyzstan (10.2 percent), Turkmenistan (7.5 percent), Afghanistan (6.1 percent), Tajikistan (5.5 percent), Iran (3.5 percent), Pakistan (1.9 percent) and Azerbaijan (1.5 percent). In 2021, the total trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the ECO countries exceeded $1.13 trillion. This year, cooperation has become even more active. During the first nine months of the year, trade turnover within the ECO amounted to $9.2 billion, and the participating countries make up 20.5 percent of Uzbekistan’s total trade turnover. Exports totaled $4.2 billion, while imports amounted to $5 billion (+3.3 percent).
ECO countries are among the main exporters to Uzbekistan’s partner countries.
Shakhnoza Mamaturopova, UzA