Uzbekistan and Malaysia collaborate on smart agriculture and drone manufacturing

Uzbekistan will engage in mutual legal cooperation with Malaysia in criminal cases, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice.

As per the announcement, a law signed by the President ratifies the agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Government of Malaysia on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (Tashkent, June 8, 2023).

On February 4, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Upon arrival at the airport, the President held a meeting with the Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament, during which they exchanged views on the agenda of the upcoming high-level meetings.

On February 5, an official welcoming ceremony for Shavkat Mirziyoyev took place at the Perdana Putra government complex in Kuala Lumpur. Following the ceremony, high-level negotiations were held.

Foreign trade

Since the beginning of the year, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Malaysia has increased by 36%, reaching nearly $20 million. Uzbekistan primarily exports fruits, vegetables, and mineral fertilizers to Malaysia, while Malaysia exports vegetable oils, coffee, tea, spices, chemical industry products, and foodstuffs to Uzbekistan.

Cooperation in drone production

Recently, Uzbekistan and Malaysia reached an agreement on practical cooperation in smart agriculture technologies and drone manufacturing.

Malaysian companies have shown interest in drone production in Uzbekistan since April 2023. In September 2024, Malaysia’s leading robotics supplier, Meraque Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.

The company plans to invest 20 million Malaysian ringgit to establish a manufacturing enterprise in Uzbekistan that will create 1,000 jobs and serve 100,000 hectares of agricultural land over the next three years. Additionally, Meraque intends to raise an additional 30 million ringgit to support technological advancements in the region.

Founded in 2018, Meraque specializes in manufacturing various types of drones, developing software solutions for them, and advancing robotics. The company operates in Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, and Pakistan.