BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. The Uzbek-Azerbaijani tandem could become one of the potential integration centers of the Turkic world in the 21st century, helping strengthen economic connectivity across Eurasia, Uzbek political analyst and expert Ravshan Nazarov told Trend.
According to the expert, the next stage of economic cooperation between the two countries should focus on moving from trade in finished goods toward the creation of joint production chains. “This is where the greatest potential for mutual investment lies. Promising areas in industry include machinery, electrical engineering, chemical and petrochemical industries, construction materials, textiles and pharmaceuticals,” Nazarov said.
He emphasized that the goal is not limited to establishing individual enterprises but involves creating integrated cooperation chains, where component production, assembly and further processing can be distributed between the two countries. “Today, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are already implementing projects in construction, geology, energy, agriculture, tourism and other promising sectors,” the expert noted.
Nazarov separately highlighted the automotive industry as one of the most promising areas for cooperation. “Uzbekistan has a strong industrial base and a developed automotive sector, while Azerbaijan has a strategic geographic location, access to international transport routes and opportunities to promote products to the markets of the Caucasus, Türkiye, Europe and the Middle East,” he said.
According to him, potential areas of cooperation include joint production of automotive components, electric vehicles, commercial transport and the development of related service infrastructure.
Speaking about energy cooperation, the expert noted that the potential extends beyond traditional resources. “Today, renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity transmission are becoming increasingly important. Azerbaijan is consistently developing its renewable energy potential, while Uzbekistan is actively implementing solar and wind energy projects. Their technological and investment cooperation could expand into joint projects in third countries,” Nazarov said.
He also pointed to significant opportunities in agriculture, including food processing, logistics, food production, seed development, agricultural technologies and the efficient use of water resources. “It is important that in 2023 the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company was established with capital of $500 million. Its mandate includes investments not only in the two countries but also in third markets. This means that the partnership is gradually taking on the role of a regional investment mechanism,” the expert said.
Commenting on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Nazarov noted that the Middle Corridor is becoming not only a transport route but also an instrument for building a new model of Eurasian economic connectivity. “For Uzbekistan, as a landlocked country, Azerbaijan is of exceptional importance: through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, an alternative route to European markets is opening. For Azerbaijan, Central Asia is becoming a source of growing cargo flows and an important direction for economic cooperation,” he said.
The expert noted that transit cargo volumes between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan exceeded 1.5 million tons in 2025, while in the first half of 2026 they reached almost 1 million tons.
At the same time, he stressed that further development of the route requires not only increasing cargo volumes but also harmonizing tariffs, digitalizing customs procedures, introducing electronic documentation, expanding container transportation, and developing port and railway infrastructure. “In this regard, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan can serve as a kind of logistics bridge connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe,” Nazarov said.
Speaking about the role of the two countries within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the expert noted that the significance of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani partnership goes beyond political cooperation. “Baku and Tashkent can connect the economic, transport and cultural-humanitarian potential of two major regions — the South Caucasus and Central Asia,” he said.
According to Nazarov, Azerbaijan serves as a gateway for Central Asia to the Caucasus, Türkiye and European markets, while Uzbekistan has significant human capital, industrial capacity and consumer potential in Central Asia. “Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, cooperation can develop in trade and investment, transport connectivity, energy, the digital economy, industrial cooperation, tourism, education and humanitarian exchanges,” the expert noted.
He emphasized that the most promising model is the gradual alignment of economic interests and the creation of a common space of opportunities. “Uzbek-Azerbaijani partnership can become one of the driving forces of the OTS. It demonstrates that a shared historical and cultural heritage can acquire practical meaning through investments, new transport routes, joint ventures, technological exchange and business expansion into new markets,” Nazarov said.
In his view, combining the Middle Corridor with investment cooperation can help create a comprehensive economic ecosystem. “If transport infrastructure ensures the movement of goods, joint investment mechanisms ensure the production of those goods and the creation of added value. In this case, we are no longer talking simply about a transport route, but about a fully-fledged economic ecosystem,” the expert concluded.
