Photo courtesy of the President's Press Service of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans to approve a regulation allowing citizens of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states to enter Uzbekistan using their internal identification documents. The initiative, aimed at boosting tourism, was presented during the EAEU summit held on December 26 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
According to the presidential press service, Mirziyoyev emphasized Uzbekistan’s active collaboration with EAEU members despite its observer status. The country has established partnerships across 22 sectors.
This year, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and EAEU member states increased by 11%.
Over the next three years, 40 joint initiatives are planned in areas such as trade, industry, finance, agriculture, and transportation.
Key Proposals
Mirziyoyev highlighted the need to eliminate trade barriers, suggesting discussions on reducing tariff and non-tariff restrictions for export-import operations between Uzbekistan and EAEU states.
Uzbekistan is also open to consultations on harmonizing technical regulations and is exploring joining the unified customs transit system, implementing electronic data exchanges on goods and transportation, and engaging in programs to support industrial cooperation and localization.
«We plan to finalize procedures and join the Eurasian Development Bank early next year to secure reliable financial sources for joint projects,» said Mirziyoyev. He also stressed the importance of collaboration in digital technologies and artificial intelligence, proposing Uzbekistan’s integration into the EAEU information system and the «Digital Union» project.
To strengthen business partnerships, Mirziyoyev suggested hosting the EAEU Business Council meeting in Tashkent in April 2025.
EAEU Summit Highlights
The summit was chaired by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who participated online. Attendees in St. Petersburg included:
Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan),
Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan),
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan),
Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus),
Vladimir Putin (Russia),
Seyed Mohammad Atabak (Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade), representing Iran as an observer state.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the summit participants via video message.
Several joint agreements were signed during the summit. Belarus will take over the EAEU chairmanship from Armenia in 2025.
