Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 June 2025, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered a speech at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Minsk. In his address, the head of state highly praised Belarus’s chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), noting the intensification of multilateral cooperation within the Union.

“I would like to join in expressing my gratitude to the President of the Republic of Belarus, the esteemed Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, for the traditionally warm welcome and the high level of organization of today’s meeting,” Mirziyoyev stated.

The President emphasized that Uzbekistan is feeling the negative impact of global economic trends: “We in Uzbekistan are fully experiencing the consequences of rising protectionism and sanctions policies, disruptions to trade and logistics chains, and declining investment activity from foreign partners.”

In light of this, the Uzbek leader stressed that a strategic priority remains the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation with EAEU member states. “These are our natural and traditional partners,” he underscored.

He thanked colleagues for their active participation in the international industrial exhibition “INNOPROM. Central Asia” and the Tashkent Investment Forum, highlighting that important agreements and promising cooperation projects were launched as a result of these events.

The President shared the outcomes of cooperation with the EAEU in observer status: “Over the past four years, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with the Union’s countries has increased by 80 percent, reaching $18 billion last year.” He also reported a threefold increase in the number of joint ventures.

Special emphasis was placed on the development of industrial cooperation and the removal of technical barriers: “We have begun implementing a new three-year plan that includes around 40 concrete initiatives.”

Mirziyoyev noted Uzbekistan’s active involvement in key EAEU initiatives such as the “Eurasian Agroexpress,” digitalization of freight transport, the climate agenda, and the development of e-commerce. He also mentioned that Uzbekistan had joined the Agreement on the Establishment of the Eurasian Development Bank and had begun exploring joint projects in strategic economic sectors.

“We attach great importance to creating favorable conditions for increasing mutual trade,” the President stressed, calling for accelerated efforts to simplify trade procedures and align technical regulation systems.

A particular focus was placed on digitalization and the adoption of modern technologies. Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the development of a special program covering areas such as e-commerce, digital labeling, next-generation logistics platforms, and the use of AI in key sectors.

He also expressed Uzbekistan’s interest in participating in the unified information system for border checkpoints and in mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized businesses. “To stimulate the development of cooperative ties, we propose expanding practical cooperation within the frameworks of existing SME support programs,” he added.

The President called for joint efforts to ensure food security and reiterated his proposal to adopt an Agro-Cooperation Program between Uzbekistan and the EAEU countries.

In conclusion, he emphasized the importance of simplifying labor migration and enhancing professional mobility, expressing Uzbekistan’s readiness to join the “Work Without Borders” platform.

“I once again affirm our commitment to expanding practical cooperation within the EAEU,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded, expressing confidence that Uzbekistan’s participation in multilateral programs would contribute to the sustainable development of the region’s countries.