BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23. The recent meeting
between representatives of Uzbek and Turkish businesses at the
Iskenderun Chamber of Commerce and Industry serves as further
evidence of the growing strategic importance of logistics
cooperation in Uzbekistan-Türkiye economic relations. While the
discussions covered trade, investment and export opportunities,
their primary significance lies in demonstrating how both countries
are increasingly focusing on transport connectivity and
supply-chain development as a foundation for future economic
growth.
The growing focus on logistics cooperation reflects the broader
expansion of economic ties between Uzbekistan and Türkiye. During
the Uzbek-Turkish Business Forum held in May 2026, officials noted
that bilateral trade had increased by 43.8% over the previous five
years, reaching $3.02 billion in 2025. Turkish investment in
Uzbekistan reached $3.2 billion last year, while approximately
2,000 joint ventures currently operate in the country across
sectors including construction, logistics, textiles and
manufacturing. As trade and investment volumes continue to expand,
the need for efficient transport and logistics infrastructure is
becoming increasingly important.
Over the past several years, logistics has become one of the key
pillars of bilateral cooperation. As a landlocked country,
Uzbekistan relies heavily on efficient transit routes to access
international markets. Meanwhile, Türkiye occupies a unique
geographical position connecting Central Asia with Europe, the
Mediterranean and the Middle East. Strengthening logistics links
between the two countries therefore offers mutual benefits, helping
Uzbekistan improve access to global markets while reinforcing
Türkiye’s role as a transit and distribution hub for Central Asian
goods.
These priorities were reflected in the Iskenderun meeting.
Alongside discussions on expanding trade volumes, participants
focused on improving logistics networks and establishing closer
cooperation between businesses involved in freight transportation,
warehousing and export-oriented manufacturing. The Uzbek
delegation’s visit to the Iskenderun Organized Industrial Zone and
logistics facilities further underscored the practical nature of
these efforts, providing an opportunity to examine infrastructure,
supply-chain management practices and potential partnerships with
Turkish logistics operators.
The growing emphasis on logistics cooperation also coincides
with increasing interest in the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, which
connects Central Asia with Europe through the Caspian Sea, the
South Caucasus and Türkiye. As governments and businesses seek
faster and more diversified trade routes between Asia and Europe,
both Uzbekistan and Türkiye are working to strengthen their
positions within emerging Eurasian supply chains. For Uzbekistan,
deeper cooperation with Turkish logistics operators could improve
access to European and Mediterranean markets, while Türkiye stands
to reinforce its role as a key transit gateway for goods moving
westward from Central Asia.
The growth in logistics cooperation coincides with Uzbekistan’s
efforts to diversify its export markets and transportation routes.
As the country aims to increase exports of higher-value products,
including textiles, processed foods, chemicals and industrial
goods, efficient logistics has become increasingly important. In
these sectors, competitive transportation costs and reliable
delivery times are often just as important as production capacity
itself.
Enhanced cooperation with Turkish logistics companies could help
Uzbek exporters access Mediterranean and European markets more
efficiently, strengthening their competitiveness abroad.
The importance of logistics is also evident in the broader
trajectory of Uzbekistan-Türkiye economic relations. While both
governments have repeatedly emphasized their ambition to further
increase trade turnover, achieving this objective will require not
only stronger commercial ties but also improvements in
transportation infrastructure, customs procedures and supply-chain
connectivity. As trade volumes grow, logistics increasingly becomes
the mechanism that enables economic cooperation to translate into
tangible economic outcomes.
Against this backdrop, the Iskenderun meeting should be viewed
not as an isolated business event but as part of a broader trend
toward deeper logistics integration between Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
The interest expressed by Turkish companies in visiting Uzbekistan
later this year to discuss industrial and export-import
partnerships suggests that both sides see significant untapped
potential in expanding logistics cooperation.
As Uzbekistan continues to pursue export-led growth and economic
diversification, stronger logistics links with Türkiye are likely
to play an increasingly important role. Discussions in Iskenderun
demonstrate that both countries now view logistics as a strategic
tool for expanding trade, attracting investment, and strengthening
regional connectivity across Eurasia, rather than merely as a
supporting service.
