At a Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan business forum held in Tashkent, it was announced that from August 10, tariff and non-tariff barriers for a number of goods will be lifted. The decision was reported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The move covers agricultural and food products, textiles, construction materials, machinery, electrical equipment, furniture, and other goods. The forum highlighted that trade restrictions were discussed at a recent meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Aktau, attended by the prime ministers of both countries. Following the negotiations, the parties made decisions on barriers that the business community had previously flagged.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhobov stated that businesses had long raised this issue, and the removal of barriers will serve as a major impetus for entrepreneurs. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yerlan Turgumbayev said the decisions apply to nearly 20 types of products. He emphasized that such prompt decisions had not been made before.

According to the ambassador, Kazakhstan has the potential to increase deliveries to Uzbekistan for 261 product positions. The list of goods covered by the barrier removal includes fresh and chilled vegetables, fruits, grain crops, sugar and confectionery, plastic products, cotton and cotton fiber, textile products, construction materials, ceramics, glass, metal structures, machinery and equipment, electrical products, auto components, and furniture.

Chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan 'Atameken' Kanat Sharlapayev stressed the need to make the work on eliminating trade barriers a permanent process. He acknowledged existing problems in logistics and at the border that need to be resolved. Sharlapayev also noted that achieving the target of increasing trade turnover to $10 billion requires daily practical work, not just political statements.

It is worth recalling that by the end of 2025, mutual trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan grew by 11% to nearly $5 billion. The presidents of the two countries have set the task of increasing this figure to $10 billion. In January 2024, the sides agreed to establish a working group to eliminate barriers in bilateral trade.

Source: www.gazeta.uz