Uzbekistan seeks to enhance trade relations with Turkey

By Bahtiyar Abdukerimov

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is seeking opportunities that will increase trade relations with Turkey, the country's s foreign trade minister said on Monday.

Khodjaev Jamshid Abduhakimovich's remarks came during a meeting with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) President Serdar Cam, who is currently in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

Recalling Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official visit to Ankara last October after a nearly 20-year pause, Abduhakimovich said there is a lot of work to further enhance business relations.

He said the current trade volume between the two countries is $1.2 billion and that it falls behind the potential.

"We want to increase the trade volume between Uzbekistan and Turkey to $5 billion."

For his part, Cam said TIKA is always willing to improve relations with Uzbekistan. "We, as TIKA, always stand with you, and we are very happy to share all the opportunities with you," he said.

As part of his talks in the country, Cam also visited Uzbekistan's State Committee for Investments.

He will later visit the ministries of foreign, labor and health.