Uzbekistan eyes EU market access through Slovenia’s Port of Koper

According to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan, the discussions between Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar centered on advancing practical cooperation between the two countries.

A key topic was the expansion of bilateral trade, with the goal of reaching an initial volume of €500 million, primarily through diversifying the range of traded goods and promoting import substitution. Uzbekistan aims to increase exports of textiles, fruit and vegetable products, mineral fertilizers, copper products, and other industrial goods, while Slovenia is expected to supply pharmaceuticals, advanced technologies, and equipment.

The parties emphasized the potential of using Slovenia’s Port of Koper as a logistics hub to facilitate Uzbekistan’s access to European Union markets.

Agreements were reached on adopting an Industrial Cooperation Program with leading Slovenian companies, which will include joint projects for the production of modern equipment, industrial and agricultural goods, and the localization of pharmaceutical manufacturing — including products made from honey and medicinal herbs — as well as the construction and modernization of energy facilities, among other initiatives.

In the area of labor migration, the two sides agreed to prepare a bilateral agreement on organized labor migration, including the development of training and adaptation programs in language skills, vocational training, and labor standards.

The development of tourism, particularly in rural and mountainous regions, was identified as a promising area for cooperation. In the education sector, the sides agreed to sign a mutual recognition agreement on academic degrees and to launch joint training programs with the Universities of Ljubljana and Maribor.

To coordinate and advance these efforts, the first session of the Intergovernmental Commission will be held in Ljubljana this July.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.