Mirziyoyev Names Five Priorities for Cooperation With Serbia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has identified five priority areas for developing economic cooperation with Serbia: machinery and electrical engineering, pharmaceuticals, light industry, agriculture and the digital economy.

Speaking at the Uzbek-Serbian Business Forum in Belgrade on 8 September, Mirziyoyev said agreements reached at the political level should be backed by concrete joint projects.

“Our task is to reinforce political trust through joint production and investment,” Mirziyoyev said.

The president identified machinery and electrical engineering as the first priority. He noted that Uzbekistan’s automotive industry produces around 500,000 vehicles annually in cooperation with General Motors, Volkswagen, Kia and BYD. Electrical products from Uzbekistan, he said, are exported to more than 70 countries.

Uzbekistan has proposed that Serbian businesses establish joint production of automotive and industrial components, equipment and transformers. Mirziyoyev separately highlighted the potential for cooperation with Goša FOM and said Uzbekistan was ready to create the necessary conditions for the company to operate in the country.

Pharmaceuticals were identified as the second priority. Mirziyoyev estimated Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market at nearly US$3 billion. Tashkent is interested in moving from importing medicines toward local production and attracting technologies.

“We invite you to move from simple trade to technology transfer and the creation of joint ventures,” Mirziyoyev said. He named Serbian companies Galenika and AbelaPharm as potential partners.

Light industry was the third priority. According to the president, Uzbekistan has developed a production chain from raw cotton to finished products, while its textiles are exported to 75 countries.

Mirziyoyev said negotiations are already underway with Serbian companies Yumco and Luss Textile on localizing production in Uzbekistan. In the future, the enterprises established through these projects could serve not only the markets of the two countries but also supply higher value-added products to third countries.

Agriculture and the food industry were named as the fourth priority. The president highlighted Uzbekistan’s export potential in the production of cherries, peaches, plums and apricots, while expressing interest in Serbia’s experience in breeding, seed production and agricultural technologies.

According to Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has already signed an agreement with a specialized institute in Novi Sad. He also said the country was ready to establish joint agricultural clusters.

The digital economy was the fifth priority. The president said Uzbekistan’s exports of IT services had exceeded US$1 billion over the past two to three years.

Mirziyoyev invited Serbian companies to participate in ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026, which will be held in Tashkent on 22–25 September. A separate business forum for Serbian businesses is planned as part of the event.

Mirziyoyev’s speech came as Uzbek-Serbian relations move to a new level. The two countries have previously announced the establishment of a strategic partnership, begun preparations for a free trade agreement and agreed to develop industrial cooperation.

Uzbekistan has also decided to open a separate diplomatic mission in Belgrade before establishing a full-fledged embassy. The first diplomats are expected to be sent to Serbia as early as next week.

The two sides are also discussing the launch of direct air service between Tashkent and Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said regular flights could be introduced within seven to eight months.

Serbia, in turn, has expressed readiness to develop cooperation with Uzbekistan in the defence industry.

Vucic said Serbia plans to begin producing long-range ballistic missiles in about a year and noted that the Serbian side is ready to cooperate with Uzbekistan in this area.

The Serbian president also separately spoke about a conversation with Mirziyoyev on nuclear energy.

According to Vucic, the Uzbek president told him that two nuclear power projects were being implemented — one with Russia and the second with China.