Serbia Prepares to Open Embassy in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Serbia is completing preparations to open an embassy in Tashkent, a move expected to simplify visa procedures for Uzbek citizens, including those related to employment, according to talks between officials from the two countries on labor migration and workforce mobility.

Mukhsinkhodja Abdurakhmonov, director of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency, met in Belgrade with Serbia’s Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Milica Đurđević-Stamenkovski. One of the key outcomes of the talks was an agreement to sign an intergovernmental agreement on migration and mobility.

Serbian visas for Uzbek citizens are currently processed through Serbia’s diplomatic mission in Astana. The relevant procedures are expected to be simplified once the embassy in Tashkent opens.

The opening of Serbia’s diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan was also discussed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Marko Đurić and Bakhtiyor Saidov. According to Serbia’s foreign minister, preparations for opening the embassy in Tashkent are now being finalized.

As part of the labor migration talks, the Serbian side expressed interest in attracting specialists from Uzbekistan to work on the construction of facilities for EXPO 2027 in Belgrade.

The sides discussed preliminary training of workers based on Serbia’s needs and their subsequent placement in jobs offering decent working conditions.

After meeting with the labor minister, Abdurakhmonov held talks with Milan Bosnić, director of Serbia’s National Employment Service. The sides agreed that after ratification of the intergovernmental agreement, the two agencies would sign a cooperation protocol on labor migration and workforce mobility.

The development of bilateral ties was also discussed at the Uzbek-Serbian Business Forum on 8 September. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan plans to establish a special diplomatic mission in Belgrade ahead of the opening of a full-fledged embassy.

He said Uzbek diplomats are expected to arrive in Serbia next week to help promote business ties between the two countries.