ISLAMABAD: Pakistan aims to sign a five-year economic roadmap with Uzbekistan during Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjayev’s visit to Islamabad next week, the Pakistani information ministry said on Wednesday, with officials hoping the agreement will boost bilateral trade, investment and connectivity.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have steadily increased economic ties in recent years as Pakistan offers landlocked Central Asian states greater access to global markets, aiming to position itself as a regional transit hub.
Deputy PM Khodjayev is scheduled to visit Islamabad on July 20–21 on a visit that will further strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties between the two countries, according to the Pakistani information ministry.
Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema on Wednesday presided over a to review proposals to enhance the capacity of trade routes, improve road and rail connectivity and strengthen logistics infrastructure for faster, more cost-effective movement of goods between the two countries.
“He (Cheema) expressed confidence that the Five-Year Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation would be signed during the visit, providing a comprehensive framework to expand bilateral trade, investment, connectivity, and economic collaboration in the years ahead,” the Pakistani ministry said.
Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian partner with which Pakistan signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement in 2021, followed by a Preferential Trade Agreement in March 2022, covering 17 items, which became operational in 2023.
In Feb., Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged businesspersons from both countries to help the two countries achieve a bilateral trade target of $2 billion within the next five years, compared to an annual bilateral trade volume of nearly $450 million in 2025.
Officials informed participants of Wednesday’s meeting that a Business-to-Business (B2B) Forum will be organized during Khodjayev’s visit, bringing together leading private-sector representatives from both countries.
“More than 100 Uzbek companies are expected to participate in the forum, reflecting the growing interest of Uzbek businesses in exploring investment, trade, and joint venture opportunities in Pakistan,” the Pakistani information ministry said, citing officials.
“The meeting noted that agriculture, pharmaceuticals, industry, transport and logistics, and other priority sectors will be at the center of investment and commercial discussions, with both governments committed to facilitating stronger public-private partnerships and expanding economic cooperation.”
