Russian Trade Representative: Uzbekistan’s EAEU Membership Would Provide Access to a Market of Nearly 180 Million People

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) would open new opportunities for the country and serve as a powerful stimulus for economic integration in Central Asia, according to Russia’s trade representative in Uzbekistan, Konstantin Zlygostev.

“Joining the EAEU would give Tashkent completely new opportunities and provide a significant boost to the economic integration of the entire Central Asian region. Uzbek goods would be able to move freely through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan without the additional procedures that currently create bureaucratic barriers,” Zlygostev said.

He noted that membership in the union would grant Uzbekistan access to a common market of nearly 180 million people. “This is a huge opportunity for Uzbek products aimed at the export segment, primarily in textiles, agricultural products, chemicals, and food industries. Membership would also lead to lower tariffs, standardized regulations, and increased investment in joint projects,” he added.

The trade representative emphasized that full Uzbek participation in the EAEU would also benefit Russia by strengthening its position in supplying fuel, metals, timber, industrial equipment, and IT solutions. “What is already working would receive an additional boost. Logistics would become much simpler, which is a crucial factor,” Zlygostev noted.

Earlier, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted that over four years of cooperation with the EAEU, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with member states nearly doubled. He stressed that these countries are strategic and natural partners for Uzbekistan, making closer cooperation increasingly important amid global economic changes.

Currently, the EAEU includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan has held observer status in the union since 2020.