Ankara: Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Ankara, Ilham Haydarov, highlighted the growing momentum in bilateral trade between Trkiye and Uzbekistan, pledging to work toward a $5 billion trade volume target during his tenure. "Our trade volume has surpassed $3 billion, but this figure does not yet reflect the full potential of our two countries," Haydarov told Anadolu. "We will mobilize all efforts to reach the $5 billion target."
According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye remains a key economic partner, accounting for 7% of Uzbekistan's foreign direct investment last year. The number of Turkish-capital companies operating in the country has seen a steady rise, from around 1,800 at the beginning of the year to 2,006 today. Haydarov pointed out that continued promotion and incentives would help this figure grow even further.
Haydarov, no stranger to Trkiye, recalled his previous professional engagements with Turkish stakeholders, especially during his time as a director in Uzbekistan's textile sector. "In those years, we attracted many Turkish partners and experts to help develop the textile industry in our country. I also maintained close contact with numerous Turkish investors and producers," he said.
The ambassador emphasized that his tenure began during a period of high-level mutual visits and added that he has placed importance on establishing direct contact with Turkish ministers and heads of institutions, particularly those engaged in joint bilateral projects. He noted ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation in education.
"I pledged to visit all 81 provinces of Trkiye during my time here, to discover their economic potential, history, and cultural richness, and to take all necessary steps toward establishing mutually beneficial trade relations with regions in Uzbekistan," Haydarov stated, adding that these provincial visits have already begun. Special events dedicated to Uzbekistan are planned during international gastronomy festivals in Konya and Gaziantep, featuring an "Uzbek Pilaf Competition" with chefs from Samarkand.
Haydarov praised the growing tourism ties between Trkiye and Uzbekistan, noting visa-free travel and increased air connectivity as key drivers of the surge in visitor numbers. "Since the removal of visa requirements in 2018, we've seen remarkable results," he said. "There are now over 90 weekly flights between our cities. In 2023, 106,000 tourists from Trkiye visited Uzbekistan. That number has already surpassed 150,000 in 2024, and we aim to reach 200,000 by year-end."
The envoy underscored the importance of the Uzbekistan-Trkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in guiding bilateral relations across all sectors, referencing the last meeting held in Ankara on June 6, 2024, with the next scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan. Emphasizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visits to Uzbekistan, Haydarov referred to them as a reflection of the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and fraternal ties between the two nations.
He announced that a number of upcoming meetings, including the Uzbekistan-Trkiye Strategic Planning Group and other high-level formats, would be held in Ankara. "This level of dialogue exists only with Trkiye, which clearly reflects the strength of our partnership," he said, inviting Turkish citizens to visit Uzbekistan.
"It is a great honor for me to give an interview to Anadolu, Trkiye's most established news outlet, on the eve of the 34th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, which is the most cherished holiday for us," Haydarov said. He added that Trkiye played a unique role in gaining international recognition for Uzbekistan's independence, being the first country to do so.