Uzbekistan and South Africa have agreed to establish a bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and a joint working group to expand trade and investment, officials said following a series of meetings.
The Uzbek delegation, led by Shokhrukh Gulamov, held discussions with South African counterparts including Thandi Moraka, Parks Tau, and Presidential Investment Advisor Alistair Ruiters. The meetings resulted in agreements to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for bilateral trade, establish the commission, and form the joint working group tasked with increasing trade turnover between the two nations.
In addition to government-level talks, the Uzbek delegation engaged with executives from major South African companies, including Sasol, Intertoll Africa, Aspen Pharmacare, Amka Products (Pty) Ltd, Life Healthcare, Brimstone Investment Corporation, Tsico Africa Group, Capespan, and Mechem S.A. Discussions focused on opportunities for joint projects and investments in sectors such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, infrastructure, healthcare, and agribusiness.
The joint working group is expected to begin technical sessions later in 2026 to identify priority projects, harmonize customs and regulatory processes, and develop a roadmap to boost bilateral trade and investment flows. Transitional arrangements and detailed work plans are still under development.
The agreements form part of Uzbekistan’s efforts to diversify its export base and strengthen economic integration beyond traditional Eurasian corridors. For South Africa, Africa’s second-largest economy, the partnership offers strategic opportunities to expand industrial and trade cooperation with Central Asia and tap into growing investment opportunities in Uzbekistan.
This framework marks a significant step in deepening Uzbekistan–South Africa economic relations, setting the stage for measurable growth in trade, joint ventures, and sector-specific collaboration in the coming years.
Uzbekistan, a Central Asian economy rich in natural resources and strategic for regional trade, has been pursuing efforts to diversify its export base and strengthen economic ties beyond traditional Eurasian corridors. Historically, Uzbekistan’s trade has been concentrated within Central Asia, Russia, and parts of Europe, but recent reforms under its investment and industrial policies aim to attract foreign investment, modernize infrastructure, and expand sectoral cooperation.
South Africa, as Africa’s second-largest economy, offers a strategic gateway for Uzbekistan to access African markets. Its diversified industrial base including mining, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agribusiness, and infrastructure aligns with Uzbekistan’s ambitions to expand joint ventures and attract investment in key sectors.
More Read
Bilateral trade between the two countries has been limited historically, with most exchanges in raw materials, textiles, and agricultural products. Establishing an Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and a joint working group reflects a commitment to creating a structured framework to enhance trade, investment, and regulatory alignment. Such mechanisms are designed to identify priority projects, harmonize customs and regulatory processes, and increase bilateral trade flows.
Engagements with leading South African companies—including Sasol, Aspen Pharmacare, and Life Healthcare—illustrate a focus on practical project implementation, rather than purely diplomatic agreements. These efforts align with global trends in bilateral cooperation, where governments facilitate business-to-business partnerships and investment pipelines to achieve measurable economic outcomes.
The framework also fits within broader African and Central Asian strategies to diversify economic partnerships, leverage complementary industrial strengths, and integrate supply chains across continents. For both Uzbekistan and South Africa, this initiative represents a step toward structural economic cooperation, sectoral development, and long-term growth in trade and investment.
