The fourth Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Regional Cooperation Forum was held today in the city of Samarkand, chaired by Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. Representatives from all regions of both countries, along with over 200 entrepreneurs, took part in the forum.

The forum highlighted the rapid development of strategic partnership and alliance relations between the two countries, based on centuries-old friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual respect. The friendly and trusting relations between the leaders of both states were noted as a crucial factor in this progress.

Over the past seven years, trade between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has nearly doubled, reaching $4.4 billion last year. Currently, more than 1,000 Kazakh-capital enterprises operate in Uzbekistan, while over 3,600 Uzbek-capital companies are active in Kazakhstan.

The forum discussed strategies to increase mutual trade volume to $10 billion in the coming years, with a focus on expanding regional cooperation.

At the conclusion of the forum, several agreements were signed.