CAIRO, October 14. /Dunyo IA/.   Egyptian media outlets have published a series of articles covering Uzbekistan’s foreign policy and regional initiatives, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Outlets “Alawstelalamianews” and “Eldameer” reported on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s October 9^th meeting with the head of the United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade, who arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the second meeting of the Uzbek-British Economic Commission. According to the publications, the sides discussed ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation. The reports highlighted that 260 joint ventures are operating in Uzbekistan, the first securities of the National Investment Fund of Uzbekistan have been listed on the London Stock Exchange, and three joint universities have been established. The number of British tourists visiting Uzbekistan is also increasing. Publications also noted that Standard Chartered Bank operates in Uzbekistan’s financial sector, while British Petroleum is active in the oil and gas industry. The British side expressed its readiness to support the establishment of the International Financial Centre in Tashkent, which will operate under the principles of English law. Following the meeting, the sides agreed to adopt a joint roadmap for the further development of multifaceted cooperation.

Publication “Al Diplomacy”, in an article on regional integration, writes that political trust in Central Asia is being transformed into economic capital. According to the article, trade between the countries of the region increased more than 2.5-fold in 2023, intraregional investment grew nearly six fold, and mutual trade reached $10.7 billion. The publication notes that Azerbaijan’s full participation in the Consultative Meetings expands the region’s economic geography and provides access to the Caspian Sea, the Middle Corridor and the markets of Türkiye and Europe. It identifies the creation of shared added value within the region as a key priority.

Another article published by “Al Diplomacy” covers the outcomes of the Eighth Consultative Meeting held in Avaza. The publication notes that the region is moving beyond diplomatic trust towards comprehensive economic interconnectedness. The initiatives put forward by the President of Uzbekistan include “Six Economies – One Product” formula; the establishment of a Council for Infrastructure Development; a Unified Computing Infrastructure based on national data centres; a Regional Alliance for Critical Minerals; and a Regional Atlas of In-Demand Professions and Skills.

Another article published by “Al Diplomacy” focuses on water security in the Turkic world. It highlights that water issues within the Organization of Turkic States are gradually moving from general discussions towards practical cooperation, with digitalization and artificial intelligence emerging as key tools of water diplomacy. Article cites Uzbekistan’s achievements in this area: between 2020 and 2025, 1,870 kilometres of canals were lined with concrete, while water-saving technologies were introduced across 3.2 million hectares, accounting for nearly 75 percent of the country’s irrigated land. It also notes the allocation of 50 grants for young people from the member states of the Organization of Turkic States to study at the University of Central Asia for the Study of the Environment and Climate Change in Tashkent. The article proposes establishing a “School of Water of the Turkic States”.