On the development of Uzbek-Azerbaijani cooperation
Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of East-West and North-South transport corridors and has a favorable geostrategic position.
Reconstruction of roads and railroads, construction of international airports in Baku and regions, Baku International Sea Trade Port, development of East-West and North-South transport corridors have played an important role in the development of transport infrastructure not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the entire region.
In turn, relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are rapidly developing in all spheres - from politics to economy. One of the key areas of bilateral interaction is transportation and logistics. This cooperation plays an important role not only for the two countries, but also for the whole Eurasia, opening new transit corridors between East and West.
For Uzbekistan, as a landlocked country, access to international transportation routes is vital.
In this regard, Azerbaijan is becoming a key partner, providing access to the Caucasus and further to Europe, while the free trade regime, which has been in force between our countries since 1996, opens up the possibility of unimpeded entry of domestic products into the markets of partners.
Thus, the volume of cargo transportation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan by the end of 2024 was more than 100 thousand tons, with an increase of 5% in relation to the previous year.
It is gratifying that our two countries have established fruitful work in the field of aviation. In turn, Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations in the field of aviation are regulated by the Agreement on air communication and cooperation in the field of air transport dated 27.05.1996, as well as memorandums and protocols of consultations signed between the aviation authorities of the two countries. It should be noted that during the past period Uzbekistan's air navigation service provider has joined the Regional Platform on Air Navigation Safety Coordination for Europe and Asia, and since December 21, 2023 Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the association established by air navigation service providers of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Over the past 2 years, the number of flights between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has increased 2 times per week. Currently on the Tashkent-Baku route regularly operates 8 flights per week.
In addition, the Parties attach great importance to the joint development of logistics infrastructure. In particular, the Baku International Sea Port in Alyat and the free economic zone located there open new opportunities for Uzbek companies.
In order to significantly develop cargo transportation in this direction in the interests of Uzbekistan, the issue of acquiring 2 vessels for transportation on the Caspian Sea is being worked out.
Cooperation with colleagues from Azerbaijan is underway in this direction.
“Uzbekiston Railways” and Azerbaijan Railways are intensifying cooperation in the field of container transportation, increasing throughput capacity and introduction of digital solutions in logistics. In turn, Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations in the field of railway transport are regulated by the Agreement on mutual relations in the field of international railway communication of 27.05.1996, the Agreement on measures to further deepen cooperation in the field of railway transport and development of combined transportation of 11.09.2008.
Speaking of cooperation in this direction, it is important to mention the Protocol signed during the meeting of the heads of railroads of five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the formation of an international multimodal route “Asia-Pacific Countries - China-Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Turkey - Europe” (CASCA+). On December 17, 2021 Turkey joined this Protocol, and the Protocol of the six-party meeting was signed between the parties.
These documents provide for the organization of multimodal transportation of container block-train from China to Europe along the Trans-Caspian route with the provision of discounts for railway transportation in the amount of up to 70%.
In 2024 through the port of Baku (Middle Corridor) the total volume of cargo transportation of Uzbekistan amounted to more than 1 million tons with an increase of 26 % in relation to the previous year.
In the implementation of the above projects, the time requirement is to strengthen the introduction of digital technologies in the process of international freight transportation.
In December 2022, the first transportation under the E-TIR system in full compliance with the 11th Annex to the TIR Convention between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan took place.
Starting from March 2025, fully switched to electronic exchange of E-PERMIT permit forms.
New directions of possible interaction between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
1. In the current geopolitical situation, there is a tendency of transition from traditional transportation routes to alternative, more reliable, involving the use of different modes of transport, which contributes to the growing attractiveness of multimodal transportation.
Despite the limited access to the main world ports, Uzbekistan can fully develop the transport and logistics industry through the formation of land transport corridors, developing them throughout the Eurasian region.
There are promising transportation projects that could become a huge impetus in the integration of the transportation system of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe and Asia.
Among such projects are the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railroad projects.
The development of the above two projects will lead to an increase in the transit potential of the countries of the Central Asian region, the Caucasus and the formation of new multimodal transport and transit digital corridors:
“APR countries - China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Turkey - EU”;
“SEA countries - Pakistan - Afghanistan - Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan - Azerbaijan - Georgia (Black Sea ports) - EU”.
2. Uzbekistan's cooperation with Azerbaijan is strengthened
within such international platforms as CIS, Organization of Turkic States, Economic Cooperation Organization, TRACECA and others.
Thus, transport and logistics cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan goes beyond bilateral relations - it becomes an important link in the formation of a new Eurasian transport map. Given the geographical location of both countries, their interaction plays a key role in ensuring sustainable and diversified routes between the East and the West.
Bekzod Kholmatov
Director of the Center for the Study of Transport Problems
Shokhjakhon Shikhnazarov
Chief Specialist of the Center for the Study of Transport Problems
