Uzbekistan, Iraqi Kurdistan Sign Business Cooperation Deals

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — An economic forum organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan was held in Tashkent on 18 July 2026.

The event served as a platform to discuss expanding trade and economic cooperation, strengthening direct business contacts, and implementing joint investment and industrial projects.

The forum brought together the heads of the chambers of commerce and industry of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja and Kirkuk, led by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan, along with representatives of industry associations and more than 400 business representatives from Uzbekistan and Iraq.

Opening remarks were delivered by Davron Vakhabov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan; Gaylan Said Aziz, Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan; and Ayubkhon Yunusov, Uzbekistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kuwait.

New opportunities for trade and investment

Participants said trade and economic ties between Uzbekistan and Iraq have continued to develop in recent years, while noting that the existing potential for bilateral cooperation has yet to be fully utilized.

The forum focused on expanding direct business contacts, increasing bilateral trade, attracting investment and developing industrial cooperation. The participation of representatives from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja and Kirkuk, described as key economic centers of Iraqi Kurdistan, highlighted significant potential for strengthening both interstate and interregional business ties.

Participants also discussed prospects for expanding trade and economic relations, increasing investment cooperation, implementing joint manufacturing projects and developing direct business-to-business contacts.

The B2B format enables companies to exchange information on available opportunities while conducting direct negotiations on specific projects and areas of cooperation.

Interregional cooperation gains institutional framework

One of the forum's key outcomes was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Iraqi Kurdistan.

To promote interregional economic cooperation, memorandums of understanding were also signed between regional chambers of commerce and industry in Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan:

• Tashkent City Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Tashkent Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Sulaymaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Samarkand Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Duhok Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Bukhara Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Halabja Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• Syrdarya Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to the forum organizers, the signed documents provide a framework for establishing long-term business contacts, combining the economic potential of the regions and promoting joint projects.

From dialogue to practical projects

The agreements are expected to help move cooperation from general declarations of intent to the implementation of specific investment and industrial initiatives.

Priority areas include expanding trade, implementing investment projects, establishing joint manufacturing ventures and building long-term partnerships between businesses from the two sides.

The forum noted that direct regional contacts are becoming an increasingly important instrument of international economic cooperation. In this context, partnerships between Tashkent, the Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Syrdarya regions and the leading economic centers of Iraqi Kurdistan create additional opportunities for mutually beneficial projects.

The forum in Tashkent highlighted the growing role of business diplomacy in developing economic relations between Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Its main outcome was the creation of a practical framework for further cooperation, ranging from direct dialogue between businesses to the implementation of joint investment and industrial projects.

The agreements are expected to support increased trade, the launch of new joint initiatives and the development of long-term partnerships between the business communities of Uzbekistan and Iraqi Kurdistan.