The Center for Economic Research and Reforms has prepared an infographic highlighting trends in bilateral trade, investment cooperation, and industrial collaboration between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Bilateral Trade
Kazakhstan is one of Uzbekistan’s largest trading partners and ranks first among Central Asian countries in terms of trade turnover with Uzbekistan.
Between 2016 and 2025, bilateral trade increased 2.6-fold, from $1.9 billion to nearly $5 billion.
In January–August 2026, bilateral trade grew by 23.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching $3.74 billion. Uzbekistan’s exports to Kazakhstan amounted to $1.02 billion, while imports totaled $2.72 billion.
During this period, Kazakhstan accounted for 61% of Uzbekistan’s total trade with Central Asian countries.
Structure of Bilateral Trade
Machinery and equipment accounted for 32% of Uzbekistan’s exports to Kazakhstan, followed by manufactured goods at 15%, food products at 15%, and services at 14.3%.
Major exports include automobiles, fruits and vegetables, textile and chemical products, construction materials, and other finished goods.
In Uzbekistan’s imports from Kazakhstan, food products accounted for 40%, manufactured goods for 23%, fats and oils for 10%, and services for 2.4%.
Major imports include grain and flour products, metallurgical products, petroleum products, industrial raw materials, machinery, and other goods.
The two countries have set a target to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2030.
Investment Cooperation
As of October 2026, Uzbekistan was home to 1,378 enterprises with Kazakh capital. These accounted for approximately 58% of the 2,384 enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with capital from Central Asian countries.
Between 2016 and 2025, Uzbekistan attracted a total of $1.7 billion in foreign direct investment and loans from Kazakhstan.
In 2025 alone, investment and loans from Kazakhstan reached $870 million.
Enterprises with Kazakh capital operate primarily in trade, manufacturing, construction, financial services, and logistics.
In May 2026, a roadmap for implementing agreements on investment and trade was signed in the presence of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The document covers joint projects in automotive manufacturing, energy, chemicals, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, construction materials, and agriculture.
As of July 2026, the two countries were working on 80 joint projects worth more than $1.8 billion.
Of these, 15 projects worth $227 million had already been launched, creating approximately 5,000 jobs.
Another six projects worth $102 million were under active implementation, while 59 prospective initiatives totaling $1.5 billion were being developed.
In addition, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are implementing a $7.8 billion investment and trade roadmap. This cooperation aims to strengthen industrial collaboration, expand mutual supplies of goods, and attract new investment.
CERR Public Relations Sector
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