"Mirror" SEZs of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: Concept Ready, Practice Ahead

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The idea of creating "mirror" special economic zones (SEZs) between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has not yet entered the stage of practical implementation, though both sides recognize its long-term potential. The status of the initiative was clarified by the Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Khurram Teshabaev, in an interview with Report.az.

The core concept assumes that companies from both nations could operate within these designated zones under a single-window system, enjoying reciprocal tax and customs preferences.

"Although this issue is not yet in the stage of practical execution, the concept itself completely aligns with our approaches to developing the investment climate," Teshabaev stated.

According to the deputy minister, current bilateral efforts are primarily focused on maximizing the efficiency of already functioning mechanisms, including existing special economic zones, industrial parks, technology parks, and ongoing joint investment projects.

At the same time, the deputy minister pointed out the significant potential for closer interaction between the free economic zones of the two countries. This includes exchanging regulatory expertise, localizing manufacturing lines, forming joint industrial clusters, and integrating production and logistics chains.

"I am confident that as industrial cooperation expands and mutual investments grow, the issue of creating more integrated formats of cooperation, including the 'mirror' SEZ model, can move into a practical dimension," Teshabaev stated, adding that such a mechanism could eventually serve as an additional catalyst for attracting investment and developing joint production facilities.