The Uzbek and Turkish people are inextricably bound up by centuries-old common history, language and religion, shared values and similar customs and traditions.
After the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1991 ties between Uzbekistan and Turkiye started to grow very strong which was followed by establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.
That time dozens of Turkish companies started to invest to Uzbekistan, established joint-ventures and were ready to do business in the country. In the 90’s many significant buildings, airports and several big industrial complexes in Uzbekistan were built by Turkish construction companies such as GAMA, Yüksel, Alarko etc.
However, the 1999 Tashkent bombings occurred on 16 February, which appeared to be an attempt to assassinate President Islam Karimov, the first president of Uzbekistan had cooled the relations. Because the investigation of the case showed the connection of of Fethullah Gülen operating more than 20 high schools in Uzbekistan to CIA. What’s more, it was determined that more than 70 educational staff of the schools of Gülen had been there with hidden red and green passports of the USA and were working as undercover agents of CIA. This information later was proved in details by former expert of FBI Professor Paul Williams in his book “Operation Gladio: The Untold Story of the Unholy Alliance between the Vatican, the CIA, and the Mafia”…
Today’s heads of two countries, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are trying to develop the relations between Uzbekistan and Turkiye to the maximum level of cooperation. Again, the states of brotherhood are building very close connections in all spheres of life, welcoming back each other.
The warm connections in politics have contributed to the development of relations in economics. Today again Turkiye has big construction contracts Uzbekistan. According to the report of Turkish Contractors Association, the 8.5 % of total international construction contracts of Turkish companies in 2016 are in Uzbekistan (appr. $850 millions) and with this the country has been the second-biggest foreign market for Turkish constructors.
Uzbekistan, one of the most rapidly growing economies of the world with an around 8 percent of growth rate, and Turkiye signed a package of documents with total sum of over $1 billion, within the visit of the delegation of Uzbekistan led by Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov to Turkiye from 26 February to 2 March 2017.
Few days ago it was announced that one part of signed documents within the Uzbek-Turkish business forum was establishing of Metal construction plant in “Angren” special economic zone of Uzbekistan engaged in the production and sale of metal structures, such as welded beams, supports, and building frames for industrial construction. The project with the amount of $10 million will be set up by the Turkish company “Dal Teknik Makina Ticaret ve Sanayi Anonim Şirketi” and be completed by the end of 2017.
Turkiye’s trade volume with Uzbekistan is currently at around $1.2 billion, which is not satisfying for both sides. The countries have great potential for further business cooperation in many sectors, from textiles to tourism, from petrochemicals to health…
There is a certain hope that the expected official meeting between Mirziyoyev and Erdogan will serve as point of breaking down of all possible barriers in the mutual relations.
Dilmurod Jumaboev
