BISHKEK, July 25. /Dunyo IA/. The Kyrgyzstan information and analytical agency “Alliance-Press” has published an article dedicated to Uzbekistan’s role in the development of regional dialogue platforms, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The article notes that at the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held in Tashkent in November 2025, a decision was made on the full participation of Azerbaijan in the regional dialogue. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed transforming the consultative format into the strategic “Community of Central Asia” with a rotating secretariat. Uzbekistan also put forward initiatives to develop a regional trade programme until 2035, create a common investment space, and establish a Council for Infrastructure Development.

The publication states that mutual trade between Uzbekistan and the countries of the region reached $8.3 billion in 2025, while trade turnover with Azerbaijan increased 9.5 times from 2017 to 2025, reaching $307.3 million.

Particular attention was paid to the Middle Corridor through the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan as an alternative transport route to the markets of the Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe. According to the World Bank’s assessment, by 2030, cargo flows along the corridor could triple, while delivery times could be reduced by half.

The further importance of the format will depend on the extent to which the transport agenda is complemented by industrial cooperation, in particular through the creation of joint production zones along the corridor, concludes “Alliance-Press”.