Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan launch industrial cooperation hub

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will jointly create an International Center for Industrial Cooperation named "Central Asia." Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ratified the agreement with Uzbekistan to regulate the center's operations.

The center will consist of Kazakh and Uzbek sections, each under its respective country's jurisdiction. Its primary goals include fostering favorable conditions for interstate industrial collaboration and integrating small and medium-sized enterprises from both nations into global value chains.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration will oversee the center on its side, while Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade will manage the Uzbek part. The center will be located on border territories adjacent to both countries, spanning a total area of 1 square kilometer—equally divided between Kazakhstan (0.5 sq km) and Uzbekistan (0.5 sq km).

The technical launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with the official opening set for the first half of 2027.