Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Thursday held talks with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent as part of a Central Asia tour, amid Prague’s efforts to expand economic ties beyond the European Union.
The sides announced plans to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion and signed a package of agreements covering industry, science, technology, metrology, geology, and transport, including the supply of electric trains. Particular attention was given to developing certification systems and establishing laboratories, including those for Euro-6 vehicle standards.
According to the Uzbek side, 37 joint ventures with Czech capital are already operating in the country, while trade turnover has nearly doubled in recent years. The talks also focused on expanding the range of traded goods and creating mechanisms to accelerate trade, including the opening of an Uzbek certification branch in the Czech Republic.
As part of the economic agenda, the parties agreed to prepare a program of technological cooperation involving leading Czech companies. It is expected to cover mechanical engineering, energy, geology and critical minerals, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Projects in smart cities, digitalization, and infrastructure were also discussed.
The Czech delegation included around 50 business representatives from the energy, transport, engineering, and defense sectors. Prague says such missions are a key tool of economic diplomacy aimed at finding new markets outside the EU.
Humanitarian areas were also discussed, including expanding educational programs such as dual-degree schemes, cultural exchanges, and tourism. Among practical steps is the possible resumption of direct flights between the two capitals.
The political part of the talks included an exchange of views on international issues and an agreement to prepare a joint roadmap for implementing the decisions reached.
Babiš’s visit to Uzbekistan was part of a broader regional trip that also included Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, where trade, energy, and investment were likewise discussed. In both countries, the prime minister also held talks with top leadership.
Prague emphasizes that strengthening economic ties with Central Asia is seen as a way to diversify export markets and gain access to raw materials, including oil and gas, amid growing competition for influence in the region.