Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Proposed Creating an Industrial Belt and a Supreme Council with Uzbekistan
The strategic dialogue between Ashgabat and Tashkent is reaching the level of large-scale long-term projects. During a telephone conversation with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held on July 24, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced a number of important initiatives aimed at creating a renewed framework for regional integration.
Building on existing symbols of friendship and economic cooperation, including the Ashgabat and Tashkent parks in the two capitals, bridges across the Amu Darya River, and a joint border trade center, the parties are preparing to establish deeper formats of cooperation.
As a key step, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed commencing joint work on a project to establish an Industrial and Technological Belt between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This platform will enable manufacturers from both countries to establish high-tech production facilities and produce export-oriented, highly intelligent products that are competitive in global markets.
Another strategic vector will be the creation of a major transport and logistics hub on the Turkmen-Uzbek border. This facility is conceived as a key transit corridor along the East-West route, capable of directly linking the transport systems of Asia and Europe.
To institutionalize all these large-scale initiatives, the National Leader of the Turkmen people proposed the creation of a Supreme Council "Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan." This new body will ensure the coordination of joint projects and put bilateral fraternal relations on a sustainable long-term trajectory.
