Aripov Notes Positive Central Asia–Gulf Cooperation Trend

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, jointly with the Gulf Research Center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held the second forum of think tanks in the “Central Asia + Gulf Cooperation Council” format. The event brought together representatives of leading research institutions, diplomatic missions, and expert communities from both regions.

Opening the forum, ISRS Director Eldor Aripov stated that the countries of Central Asia and the Gulf have passed the stage of initial rapprochement and are now moving toward a level of sustainable, systemic partnership. The format launched in 2023 is gradually transforming from a dialogue platform into a strategic mechanism for developing coordinated approaches and practical solutions.

A significant part of Aripov’s remarks focused on transport and connectivity. According to him, for Central Asian states that lack direct access to maritime routes, access to stable logistics corridors is becoming one of the key factors of economic security.

Any changes in the functioning of traditional transit routes inevitably affect transportation costs, delivery times, and the competitiveness of national economies. In this context, the development of a diversified system of transport corridors was described as a strategic priority that can reduce vulnerability to external shocks.

Aripov also addressed the economic consequences of global instability, noting its impact on energy market dynamics, inflationary processes, and overall growth rates. “Despite the macroeconomic resilience of Central Asian countries, external factors continue to exert pressure on domestic markets, requiring the development of additional adaptation mechanisms,” he emphasized.

In his assessment, ongoing global developments reflect a profound transformation of the international system, in which flexibility, diversification, and the ability of states to adapt to heightened uncertainty are becoming increasingly important. “Strategic autonomy today is achieved through expanding partnerships and diversifying external economic ties, rather than limiting interaction,” the ISRS director said.

Speaking about tangible results of bilateral cooperation, Aripov cited figures showing that accumulated investments from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Central Asia have exceeded US$20 billion, while mutual trade has reached approximately US$5 billion. To further expand these indicators, he emphasized the need to transition to a more institutionalized model of cooperation with long-term coordination mechanisms. In this context, he highlighted the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to develop a multilateral agreement on friendship, connectivity, and cooperation.

Among the priorities, Aripov identified the expansion of trade turnover, deeper industrial cooperation, and diversification of investment engagement beyond traditional sectors, with a focus on industry, infrastructure, agro-industrial development, and the digital economy. He also stressed the importance of intensifying dialogue between think tanks, conducting joint research, and maintaining regular exchanges of expert assessments as essential conditions for developing coordinated approaches and strengthening mutual trust.