Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed that CIS countries introduce a mechanism for advance notification and consultations before imposing restrictions on food and fertiliser exports.
He made the proposal on 9 October at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Awaza, Turkmenistan, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
According to Mirziyoyev, the mechanism would make markets across the Commonwealth more predictable. It would help countries anticipate potential risks and prevent situations in which one country’s decisions unexpectedly affect markets in others.
The president described food security as an issue directly linked to economic resilience and people’s well-being. Uzbekistan hopes to secure the swift approval of an agreement to expand mutual access to public procurement of agricultural products, as well as a cooperation programme on food security.
The proposals were part of Mirziyoyev’s address on trade and economic cooperation.
He noted that economic integration and industrial cooperation remained among the main foundations of resilience and development, and called for trade and investment partnerships among CIS countries to be taken to a new level.
Mirziyoyev identified the full operation of the free trade area without restrictions as one of the immediate priorities.
Achieving this would require removing technical barriers, ensuring mutual recognition of certificates of conformity and expanding access to public procurement.
The president also highlighted profound changes in the global environment, including rising tensions and the restructuring of established economic ties.
Under these circumstances, he said, it was important to strengthen trust and ensure that agreements delivered tangible results.
Uzbekistan will assume the CIS chairmanship next year.
