Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan are seeking to turn regional dialogue into a more practical platform for trade, manufacturing, transport and energy cooperation. At the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held on October 8 in Turkmenistan’s Avaza national tourism zone, leaders presented proposals aimed at expanding cross-border business and strengthening the region’s connections with international markets.
From trade growth to joint production
Kazakhstan proposed that governments prepare a joint action plan to increase intraregional trade from approximately $13 billion to $20 billion. It also called for an inventory of previously announced regional initiatives to determine which remain relevant and commercially viable. “Since 2018, more than 200 initiatives have been put forward, but only a small number of these initiatives have been implemented,” Kazakhstan’s president said.
Kyrgyzstan placed industrial cooperation at the centre of its proposals, urging governments to identify specific mutually beneficial projects in light manufacturing, construction materials and logistics, with the participants, financing sources and implementation deadlines clearly defined. The country also proposed creating a unified e-commerce marketplace for Central Asia and Azerbaijan, which would give businesses and consumers broader access to products from across the region.
Uzbekistan argued that economic cooperation must move beyond conventional trade. “We have already reached the point where ordinary trade with one another is not enough. We need to create the final product together. The formula ‘six economies — one product’ clearly conveys what we should strive for,” Uzbekistan’s president said. Among the proposals was the creation of shared computing infrastructure based on a network of national data centres, as well as a regional atlas of in-demand professions.
Transport and energy links take priority
The China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway was highlighted as a project that could give regional countries additional access to international transport and production networks. Kyrgyzstan also called for the development of multimodal routes, simplified transport procedures and the digitalisation of freight operations.
Tajikistan proposed compiling a list of priority energy projects supported by joint financing mechanisms. It also suggested examining the construction of a large oil refinery serving regional demand and developing a shared strategy for the green transition.
Azerbaijan encouraged the more active use of joint investment funds established with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, each with capital measured in hundreds of millions of dollars. Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with Central Asian countries increased by more than 50% last year, while more than 400 companies with Central Asian capital now operate in Azerbaijan. “It is not enough merely to increase mutual trade; we need to invest together, produce together and enter external markets together,” Azerbaijan’s president said.
Transport connectivity was another major focus. Transit traffic along the Middle Corridor grew by more than 10% last year and by nearly 20% during the first eight months of the current year. Azerbaijan is transporting oil from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and is working with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the creation of a green energy corridor.
Implementation remains the key challenge
The leaders also discussed water management, artificial intelligence and regional tourism. Kazakhstan proposed a Central Asian framework convention on water use, an international water organisation under the auspices of the United Nations, a Central Asian partnership programme on artificial intelligence and a declaration on the responsible use of AI by the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
Kyrgyzstan called for tourism routes built around the principle of “one journey — several countries,” reflecting the complementary attractions of the region. The country also stressed the importance of preserving glaciers and mountain ecosystems.
Uzbekistan advocated a more flexible and understandable model of regional cooperation without cumbersome structures, while Azerbaijan underlined that peace, security and political and economic stability remain essential conditions for progress. Turkmenistan said the consultative format was creating conditions for faster economic and technological development, with the proposals presented at the meeting based on a realistic assessment of regional potential.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a joint statement and the signing of decisions on several multilateral regulatory documents. For international furniture, construction, interior and exterior manufacturing, logistics, design and architecture companies, the emerging agenda points to a wider regional market, potential joint-production platforms, new transport corridors and investment vehicles. The main opportunity will depend on whether the proposed projects move from political commitments to clearly financed, scheduled and commercially accessible ventures.
