NOVOSIBIRSK, July 29. /Dunyo IA/. Consulate General hosted the first-ever online meeting between representatives of the business circles of Uzbekistan and the Irkutsk region of Russia, dedicated to promising areas of cooperation in the trade-economic sphere, industry, agriculture and tourism, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

On the Russian side, event was attended by the leadership of the regional Ministry of Economic Development, Union “Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Eastern Siberia”, Tourism Agency of the Irkutsk Region and heads of leading companies. Uzbek side was represented by officials from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Tourism Committee, Exporters Association, Food Industry Association and FEZ “Termez International Trade Center”.

Consul General of Uzbekistan in Novosibirsk Aslam Akbarov, noted that our country remains one of the key foreign trade partners of the Irkutsk region: by the end of 2025, mutual trade turnover grew by 44% and reached 180 million dollars, with Uzbekistan ranking fourth among the region's export destinations. According to Vladimir Salovarov, Department Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Eastern Siberia, three investment agreements with Uzbekistan worth 12 million dollars are currently being implemented, and Irkutsk companies are developing 11 more projects valued at $112 million, agreements for which were reached at the “INNOPROM. Central Asia” exhibition in April 2026.

Russian side expressed interest in establishing joint ventures in agriculture and garment manufacturing using Uzbek textiles, specifically targeting the procurement of peas and raspberries, while the Food Industry Association of Uzbekistan declared its readiness to organize berry cultivation tailored to the specific orders of Irkutsk enterprises. “ViD” clothing factory proposed the creation of an Uzbek textile product hub in Novosibirsk for Namangan-made men's suits, and special interest was shown in opening a showroom for Irkutsk region goods within the “Ayritom” Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in Termez, leveraging its strategic potential for entering the Afghan market.

Parties also agreed to organize B2B meetings between tour operators and confirmed the participation of the Uzbek delegation in the 7^th Baikal International Partners Forum, scheduled to take place on August 25–27^th in Irkutsk.