TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 30. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are set to reach a $1 billion mark in mutual trade turnover volumes by the end of 2023, Trend reports.
The news followed a phone call between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
During the talks, the parties discussed topical issues of further development of Uzbek-Turkme in-depth strategic partnership, including the tracking of the progress in the implementation of previously reached agreements.
It was emphasized that the volume of mutual trade is growing and is set to exceed $1 billion by the end of 2023.
Moreover, the sides noted the fruitful partnership in creating the Shavat–Dashoguz border trade zone between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The sides also exchanged views on important aspects of regional cooperation in Central Asia, as well as reviewed the meeting schedule for 2024.
Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan from January through November 2023 amounted to $970.1 million, which is 10.5 percent more than in the same period last year ($877.5 million), placing Turkmenistan in the top 10 largest foreign trade partners of Uzbekistan in the reporting period.
Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover in the first eleven months of 2023 overall exceeded $57.3 billion, an increase of 26.2 percent, or $11.8 billion, compared to the same period last year.