Uzbek Ambassador Discusses Expansion of Interregional Cooperation with Almaty Akim

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Bakhtiyor Ibragimov paid a working visit to Almaty, during which a series of meetings were held to further expand bilateral and interregional cooperation, the Dunyo news agency reports.

At a meeting with the city’s Akim, Darkhan Satybaldy, the sides noted the steady development of Uzbek-Kazakh relations at the regional level. It was emphasized that the reciprocal visits of heads of state in 2025 gave an additional boost to cooperation between the regions of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Over the first nine months of the current year, trade turnover between Almaty and the regions of Uzbekistan grew by 20% to reach US$850 million, accounting for nearly one-fifth of total bilateral trade. Approximately 4,000 enterprises with Uzbek capital are currently operating successfully in Almaty.

The parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in tourism, including increasing air connectivity and participating in joint promotional events. They also addressed steps to gradually expand trade volumes, organize business missions, and develop industrial cooperation, including in innovative sectors.

As part of the visit, the delegation studied the activities of the Almaty Regional Diagnostic Center, operated by the company Olimp, with a focus on best practices in private sector management and healthcare efficiency.

Special attention was given to environmental issues and waste management. During a meeting with the leadership of the KazWaste association, the sides discussed opportunities for exchanging advanced knowledge, increasing the efficiency of household and industrial waste management, strengthening professional capacity and implementing regional initiatives.

The meetings resulted in agreements to develop direct contacts between specialized institutions of the two countries, prepare a memorandum of cooperation, and advance joint projects with the involvement of international financial institutions.

A proposal was also made to organize practical dialogue platforms on waste management within the framework of regional environmental events planned to be held in Astana in 2026.