On February 4-5, 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan made an official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This return visit, taking place only 9 months after the two leaders met in Tashkent in May 2024, highlights the strong trust and desire to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
This visit demonstrates that Uzbekistan and Malaysia are not merely making empty promises, but are actively working towards fulfilling them.
The agenda of the visit focused on several key areas that will further strengthen the partnership between Uzbekistan and Malaysia. One of these areas is the development of industrial cooperation. Malaysia’s success in the semiconductor industry is of great interest to Uzbekistan, which has abundant deposits of rare earth and non-ferrous metals. The agreement to establish a special economic zone in Tashkent region under the management of a leading Malaysian company, as well as the announcement of 2025-2026 as a period of innovative development for the Uzbekistan-Malaysian partnership, are significant steps in this direction.
Another important area of cooperation is in education and human capital development. With a young population of over 60%, Uzbekistan places great importance on education and the development of its citizens’ potential. Malaysia, with its well-developed higher education system and international recognition, is a promising partner in this regard. The agreement to train highly qualified personnel at Petronas University is a significant achievement in this area.
Cooperation in halal production is another potential area for strengthening bilateral partnership. With the global halal market expected to reach $2.4 trillion by 2025, Malaysia’s expertise in this field is highly valued. Uzbekistan, with its predominantly Muslim population, sees this as an opportunity to increase its competitiveness in the world market.
The visit has paved the way for a new phase of development in the relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia. The intensive cooperation at the highest level, supported by concrete economic initiatives and institutional mechanisms, provides a strong foundation for a long-term strategic partnership.
This partnership also brings significant benefits for Uzbekistan, such as modernizing its economy, creating new jobs, and improving the well-being of its people. Additionally, it strengthens Uzbekistan’s position as a reliable partner in Central Asia and diversifies its foreign economic relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sarvar Rakhmatullayev,
Leading Researcher,
Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan