AZE.US
President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan has produced a broad package of political and economic agreements, including a Treaty on Eternal Friendship, billions of dollars in planned investments, new SOCAR and Sea Breeze projects, and expanded cooperation on Caspian transit routes.
Aliyev arrived in Tashkent on August 23, where he and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva.
The two presidents held one-on-one talks before chairing the third meeting of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Supreme Interstate Council.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Sign Treaty on Eternal Friendship
One of the main political outcomes of the visit was the signing of a Treaty on Eternal Friendship between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Aliyev and Mirziyoyev also signed a decision following the Supreme Interstate Council meeting, while officials exchanged agreements covering trade, investment, tourism, culture, pensions, foreign-policy cooperation and other areas.
The two countries are targeting $1 billion in annual trade by 2030, although Aliyev said that figure could be reached considerably earlier.
Trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan exceeded $795 million in 2025, more than tripling from the previous year, according to figures cited by the Azerbaijani president.
$5 Billion Planned for Uzbekistan’s Tourism Sector
The largest figure announced during the visit came from the tourism sector.
Aliyev said Azerbaijani investors are planning approximately $5 billion worth of tourism investments in Uzbekistan.
The projects go far beyond the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Fund, which has capital of $500 million. Around $160 million from the fund has already been allocated to specific projects, according to Aliyev.
The president also highlighted plans to expand Uzbek automobile manufacturing in Azerbaijan. More than $80 million is expected to be invested in a new project in Hajigabul, including construction of a second production facility.
SOCAR Stations, Sea Breeze Uzbekistan and Baku City
Aliyev and Mirziyoyev also took part in ceremonies marking the opening or launch of several Azerbaijani-backed projects in Uzbekistan.
Completed projects include Davr Bank, a Matanat-A gypsum plant and two Landau STEAM schools.
New investments include the construction of five SOCAR filling stations, the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan resort and residential development, a housing project called Baku City, a silver-bearing ore processing facility and agricultural projects.
Sea Breeze Uzbekistan is being developed near the Charvak Reservoir, around 80 kilometers from Tashkent.
The master plan covers approximately 527 hectares with around seven kilometers of shoreline, making it one of the largest Azerbaijani-linked real estate and tourism ventures announced in Central Asia.
Aliyev Calls for Faster Construction of Ferry for Uzbekistan
Transport and logistics were another major focus of the talks.
Aliyev called for accelerated construction of a ferry intended to serve Uzbekistan’s growing cargo traffic through Azerbaijan.
He said the Baku Shipyard is currently building around 10 vessels of different types, including ferries, tankers and dry cargo ships, and is operating at full capacity.
The project carries significance beyond bilateral trade.
Landlocked Uzbekistan is increasingly interested in routes crossing the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, providing an alternative connection between Central Asia and European markets.
Aliyev said during the visit that Central Asia and Azerbaijan are increasingly forming a single geopolitical and geoeconomic region.
Zangezur Corridor Also Part of the Transit Equation
The discussions also touched on the emerging transport architecture connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Turkey.
Aliyev said construction work on the Azerbaijani section of the Zangezur Corridor is expected to be completed next year.
He also said the creation of an international consortium involving companies and countries interested in investing in the route and using it for future freight shipments is under consideration.
According to Aliyev, U.S. partners have been regularly informing Azerbaijan about preparations for work on the Armenian section, where construction could begin either late this year or early next year.
The Armenian section is approximately 42 kilometers long, while the railway infrastructure in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region covers about 194 kilometers.
For Uzbekistan and other Central Asian economies, additional routes through Azerbaijan could help diversify export corridors and increase the capacity of the Trans-Caspian transport network.
From Symbolism to Strategic Partnership
The visit also included several symbolic gestures reflecting the increasingly close relationship between Baku and Tashkent.
Aliyev and Mirziyoyev laid the foundation stone for an “Azerbaijan” park in New Tashkent, intended as a counterpart to the “Uzbekistan” park in Baku.
The leaders also visited the Nizami Ganjavi National Pedagogical University in Tashkent.
Aliyev recalled Uzbekistan’s construction of the Mirzo Ulugbek School in Azerbaijan’s Fuzuli district and thanked Tashkent for supporting reconstruction efforts in Karabakh.
During another ceremony, Mirziyoyev awarded Aliyev the highest degree of Uzbekistan’s Dustlik, or Friendship, Order.
Aliyev, in turn, awarded Mirziyoyev Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Order for his contribution to the development of bilateral friendship, brotherhood and allied relations.
Aliyev said he has visited Uzbekistan seven times over the past four to five years, underscoring the rapidly increasing intensity of contacts between the two governments.
The latest visit suggests that Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations are moving well beyond declarations of historic and cultural affinity.
The emerging partnership is increasingly built around investment, manufacturing, energy, tourism and transport infrastructure - with Azerbaijan positioning itself as one of Central Asia’s key gateways toward the South Caucasus, Turkey and European markets.
AZE.US