CASPIA analyst Tamilla Mammadova gave an interview to the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzA), in which she assessed the prospects for economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, the significance of expanding the Central Asian cooperation format to C6, and the opportunities for developing joint manufacturing projects.
According to Mammadova, the expansion of regional cooperation within the C6 format has established a political foundation for strengthening ties between Central Asia and Azerbaijan. However, future progress will depend on how effectively the countries capitalize on emerging opportunities to increase bilateral trade, attract investment, and develop joint production chains.
She noted that Azerbaijan is important to Uzbekistan not only as a trading partner but also as a link connecting Central Asia with the South Caucasus, Türkiye, and European markets. At the same time, the prospects for bilateral cooperation extend far beyond transit transportation to encompass industrial cooperation, product processing, and joint investment.
The analyst paid particular attention to the Middle Corridor, emphasizing that the development of transport infrastructure alone does not guarantee the economic efficiency of a route. For businesses, the decisive factors are transportation costs and delivery times, transshipment expenses, border-crossing speeds, and the transparency of customs procedures. Enhancing the corridor’s competitiveness therefore requires not only infrastructure investment but also tariff coordination, the digitalization of documentation, and closer coordination between rail and maritime operators.
In Mammadova’s assessment, the next stage of regional cooperation should involve a shift from a predominantly transit-based model towards generating greater economic value within the region. Uzbekistan’s industrial and agricultural potential could complement Azerbaijan’s transport capabilities, production capacity, and international trade links. This creates opportunities for joint projects in the textile and chemical industries, agro-processing, mechanical engineering, and the manufacture of components.
The analyst stressed that such cooperation must be grounded in concrete economic calculations, demand assessments, and evaluations of product competitiveness. Geographic proximity and political support are important, but neither is sufficient on its own to guarantee the profitability of joint ventures.
Among the existing areas of cooperation, Mammadova highlighted projects in the automotive industry, bus manufacturing, the oil and gas sector, and petrochemicals. In particular, she cited the production and export of high-pressure polyethylene to Uzbekistan as an example of industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Further opportunities to expand cooperation are linked to the activities of the Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan Investment Company, which has a capital base of $500 million. However, according to the analyst, making effective use of these investment resources requires identifying the most promising product categories, determining the optimal locations for manufacturing facilities, and selecting markets where jointly produced goods can compete successfully. This is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack information about potential partners, certification requirements, customs procedures, and actual logistics costs.
Mammadova also drew attention to the energy dimension of regional cooperation. Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan are advancing the Green Energy Corridor project, which explores opportunities to transmit renewable electricity across the Caspian Sea. This initiative broadens the scope of regional engagement by complementing trade and transport links with prospects for energy integration.
In conclusion, the CASPIA analyst noted that the practical value of the C6 format will be determined not so much by an increase in freight volumes across the Caspian Sea as by the countries’ ability to establish joint ventures, strengthen industrial cooperation, and enter new markets with competitive products.
In her assessment, the transition from greater market connectivity to joint production could mark the next stage in Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan cooperation and give the C6 format more tangible economic substance.