Experts from leading think tanks of Uzbekistan and Mongolia to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation

Transport and Logistics Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Mongolia: History, Current State and Prospects

Introduction. Uzbekistan and Mongolia, two landlocked countries in Central and East Asia respectively, have been actively developing cooperation in transportation and logistics in recent years. Historically, direct links between them have been underdeveloped due to geographical remoteness and lack of a common border, but political will and mutual interest in expanding trade routes have given impetus to new initiatives.

History of cooperation: from the establishment of diplomatic relations to new initiatives

Uzbekistan and Mongolia established diplomatic relations on January 25, 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, for the first decades, contacts in the field of transportation and logistics remained sporadic. A revival of interest in cooperation began in the second half of the 2010s against the backdrop of Uzbekistan's policy of openness and Mongolia's desire to diversify its foreign relations. In 2019, Ulaanbaatar hosted a roundtable that emphasized “great potential for the development of Mongolian-Uzbek relations” and appointed the first Mongolian ambassador to Uzbekistan (part-time) in a long time.

Trust-Based Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector is Expanding

Uzbekistan–Mongolia Cooperation: A New Stage in Bilateral Relations

Uzbekistan and Mongolia, despite the absence of a shared border and geographical proximity, continue to demonstrate consistent progress in their political, economic, and investment ties. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in January 1992, both countries have steadily strengthened bilateral cooperation, advancing toward a qualitatively new level of partnership.

On the State and Prospects of Trade and Economic Cooperation Between Uzbekistan and Mongolia

The Economy of Mongolia

According to the Asian Development Bank, Mongolia maintained economic stability in 2024, with GDP growing by 4.9% and reaching $21.3 billion. The largest share of Mongolia's GDP structure is occupied by services (46.8%), followed by mining and quarrying (25.2%), agriculture (13%), and other sectors (15%).

Mongolia possesses significant mineral resources, with over 8,000 known deposits and approximately 1,200 mines extracting more than 80 types of minerals. The country has vast reserves of coal (33.4 trillion tonnes), iron ore (1.84 trillion tonnes), oil (332 million tonnes), copper (69.9 million tonnes), uranium (192 thousand tonnes), and gold (448.1 tonnes).

New stages of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Mongolia in the field of geological exploration and mining industry

Mongolia: rich in mineral resources and potential for cooperation

Mongolia is located in Northeast Asia with a population of about 3.5 million people and an area of more than 1.56 million square kilometers. This state, despite its relatively small population, has huge natural resources, including large reserves of uranium, gold, copper and other rare earth metals. According to the World Nuclear Association, Mongolia ranks 12th in the world in terms of uranium reserves, its confirmed resources are about 60.5 thousand tons of uranium, and geological studies, in turn, show the potential of up to 1.32 million tons of uranium. Gold and copper also play an important role in the country's economy. Mongolia has one of the leading copper exports in the world, its gold mining industry holds a significant share in exports and as of 2019 accounts for 90 percent of total mineral production.

TMK – a brand bringing Uzbekistan to the global stage in the field of critical minerals

The Technological Metals Company (TMK) emerged as one of the key participants of the 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum, showcasing to the forum’s guests and foreign investors the country’s approach grounded in its critical mineral reserves and industrial potential, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Within the framework of the forum, a panel session was held on the topic “Uzbekistan as a strategic center for critical raw materials: investment opportunities along the value chain”, during which advanced technologies and issues related to the diversification of these resources were discussed.

During the forum, several high-ranking guests, including the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, visited the TMK stand and closely familiarized themselves with the investment projects on critical minerals being implemented by the Uzbekistan Technological Metals Company.