Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 5 May, the first meeting of the Uzbekistan–Slovakia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Tashkent.

The session was co-chaired by Vladimír Šimonek, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic, and Shokhrukh Gulamov, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A wide range of topics aimed at deepening bilateral partnership were discussed, with a strong focus on trade and economic relations.

The sides noted the steady growth in mutual trade turnover and reaffirmed their shared interest in expanding it further, particularly in sectors such as energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital technologies, and more.

Agreements were reached to organize joint exhibitions, business forums, and trade missions, and to utilize financial instruments such as export financing through the Slovak Export Bank and the introduction of preferential loan programs.

Discussions also covered potential cooperation in energy and renewables, agriculture, and the development of critical raw materials, including geological exploration, extraction, and processing of rare and rare-earth minerals.

The parties supported initiatives to expand cooperation in transportation and automotive manufacturing, the development of international transport corridors, digitalization, tax and financial administration, labor migration, medical and wellness tourism, and standardization, metrology, hydrometeorology, and other technical and scientific fields.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a final protocol formalizing the agreements reached. The next Commission meeting is planned to take place in Bratislava.