BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. Uzbekistan and the United States reached new agreements worth $12 billion to expand trade and investment cooperation during the second meeting of the U.S.-Uzbek Business and Investment Council, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Samarkand on October 19.
This was reflected in the statement by the press service of the Uzbek president.
The meeting focused on strengthening the Uzbek-U.S. strategic partnership and implementing agreements reached at the highest level, according to the Uzbek president’s press service.
Rubio conveyed greetings and best wishes to Mirziyoyev from U.S. President Donald Trump. The sides also reviewed the outcomes of the latest C5+1 ministerial meeting, which brought together the United States and five Central Asian countries.
Bilateral trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the United States has increased by 35% since the beginning of 2026, the statement said. Economic cooperation spans civil aviation, automotive manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture, digitalization and financial services.
The officials highlighted the role of the Business and Investment Council in expanding commercial ties and attracting investment. The latest meeting resulted in new agreements worth $12 billion.
Additionally, the sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in critical minerals, energy, transportation, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, as well as strengthen ties between regional authorities and facilitate exchanges between business delegations.
Security cooperation, including efforts to combat terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and illegal migration, was another focus of the talks. The officials also reviewed educational, cultural and tourism ties, alongside preparations for upcoming high-level bilateral events.
The meeting followed the launch of the Uzbekistan-U.S. Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue. Its first session resulted in the signing of several documents, including the Artemis Accords on principles for peaceful space exploration, according to the statement.
