Uzbekistan has unveiled plans to deepen economic ties with Central Asia and Azerbaijan, proposing shared artificial intelligence infrastructure, a critical minerals alliance and a regional trade strategy extending to 2035.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the initiatives at the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Avaza, Turkmenistan. He called for closer cooperation across trade, industry, transport, energy and technology, focusing on joint projects to boost regional growth.
Mirziyoyev proposed a Comprehensive Regional Programme for Trade and Economic Cooperation running until 2035, aimed at cutting trade barriers, strengthening industrial links and encouraging joint investment.
He described the strategy as “six economies, one product”, envisaging integrated industrial and technological supply chains spanning all six countries.
The Uzbek president also proposed hosting a Central Asia–Azerbaijan business forum in Khiva in 2027, alongside a new platform offering financial and technical support for cross-border investment projects.
Improving regional transport links emerged as another key priority. Mirziyoyev called for greater coordination between major rail and road projects to create a more integrated transport network. He also urged faster progress towards establishing a regional infrastructure development council.
On energy, Uzbekistan put forward plans for a joint strategy to harness the region's low-carbon energy potential, coordinating electricity generation, energy storage and cross-border transmission networks.
Mirziyoyev also pushed for stronger cooperation on water management and climate change, including digital monitoring, upgraded irrigation networks and water-saving technologies.
Technology featured prominently in the proposals, with Uzbekistan calling for shared AI computing infrastructure built around the six countries' national data centres.
The network would allow participating countries to pool computing resources, improve efficiency and accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and other digital projects.
Mirziyoyev also urged the swift launch of a Regional Alliance on Critical Minerals, first proposed by Uzbekistan at the Central Asia–South Korea summit. He called for a joint digital map identifying critical mineral reserves across the region.
Tackling air pollution was another priority, with Mirziyoyev proposing a pilot programme through the international consortium “Clean Air of Central Asia” to modernise industrial zones, agricultural clusters and transport hubs.
Uzbekistan will take over the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in 2027. Mirziyoyev said Tashkent plans to introduce new environmental projects, secure funding and maintain dialogue with Afghanistan over water use.
To prepare the region's workforce for changing economic demands, he proposed a Regional Atlas of In-Demand Professions and Skills.
The initiative would combine labour market forecasts from all six countries to identify skills shortages and emerging job opportunities, helping universities and technical colleges tailor training to future needs.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mirziyoyev held talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, with the two leaders signing an agreement to establish a Supreme Council of Strategic Partnership.
Their discussions also focused on significantly expanding bilateral trade and launching joint projects in industry, energy, transport, agriculture and water management.
Both leaders highlighted growing trade ties, partly supported by the Shavat–Dashoguz border trade zone.
The new council will serve as a framework for closer political dialogue and practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating ...
Uzbekistan has unveiled plans to deepen economic ties with Central Asia and Azerbaijan, proposing shared artificial intelligence infrastructure, a ...
Azerbaijan has made history at the 2026 World Judo Championships in Baku, claiming a record five medals and climbing to second place in the standin...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen after attacks on two Saudi airports left three people dead and dozens injured.
Azerbaijan and the five Central Asian states have signed two key documents at the 8th Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Turkmenbashi, formalising a broader framework for regional cooperation in transport, trade, energy, digitalisation and security.
It started with classrooms. Too many students, not enough teachers, deteriorating buildings and growing anxiety over what comes after high school. But within weeks, a movement that began outside French lycées had spread across the country.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
Saudi Arabia has restored its vital East-West oil pipeline to near-full capacity, but escalating Houthi attacks on energy facilities, airports and transport infrastructure are raising fresh concerns over the security of its oil exports.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 9 October 2026 with five key developments from the CIS summit in Turkmenistan.
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said on Friday that three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday (8 October).
Several powerful explosions reported in the south of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday may have been triggered by oil tankers hitting naval mines, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB has reported, citing unnamed military sources.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment