Trade and Economic Cooperation of Uzbekistan with Central Asia Countries

The article discusses the role and importance of regional trade and economic cooperation of Uzbekistan with the countries of Central Asia in modern conditions. The necessity of further deepening of the cooperation in order to increase the competitiveness of national producers, ensure sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty is emphasized. The geographical location and remoteness from the main centers of the world market, the similarities of customs, mentality, tastes and preferences of the population of the countries of the region, awareness of the legislation of neighboring countries in the field of foreign trade, logistics, production management reinforce significance of the problem of further deepening of trade and economic cooperation between the countries of the region. The reforms carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years, significant liberalization of the foreign trade regime and the implementation of a new open, good-neighborly and friendly policy with neighboring countries, enshrined in the Action Strategy for the five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017 - 2021, are reflected in the dynamic development of trade and economic cooperation of Uzbekistan with the states of the region. However, there are significant unrealized potentials in this area. In order to implement tthese potentials, the article proposes measures to reform customs services, suggests initiatives to simplify trade procedures, create various forms of international special economic zones, form a common market for agricultural products, and make conditions for building regional agricultural-food clusters. According to the author’s views, the implementation of suggested measures will become important factor to reduce transport expenditure in the cost of goods, expand market capacity and achieve economies of scale, diversify choices of raw materials, form competitive commodity markets in the region and reduce price volatility on them. All this, in turn, will lead to increase in the attractiveness of the regional market for foreign investment, growth of export potential and more efficient use of the advantages of the international labor division and international trade