Syria and Uzbekistan Sign Economic MoU: What New Trade Cooperation Is Planned?
-
The Arab Post
- . September 21, 2026
- . Update: September 21, 2026 5:18 pm
The milestone of Central Asian and Middle Eastern diplomacy was reached on 18th September 2026 when Syria and Uzbekistan signed economic MoU in Tashkent. Syria Uzbekistan trade deal, This historic agreement is meant to contribute to the quick and accelerated cooperation in bilateral trade and cross-border investments. Formal institutional frameworks are expected to open up attractive new markets, and as both countries seek to diversify their commercial ties. Below are a breakdown of the new trade cooperation agreements and what this historic partnership is going to mean for the private sector and the overall economic recovery of Syria.
The Core of the Syria and Uzbekistan Economic MoU
The holding of the strategic meetings in the capital of Uzbekistan shows a high level of mutual interest in strengthening and developing the economic cooperation in the region. The top-level discussions were being chaired by Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and Minister of Economy and Industry of Syria, Muhammad Nidal al-Shaar.
The heart of the summit, according to the reports from Trend News Agency, was the formalization of a memorandum that would bring diplomatic goodwill to fruition of concrete and regulating policy.
Establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee
The most prominent and important result of the summit was the Joint Economic and Trade Committee. This is a specialized regulatory body that will be the main institutional platform to promote concrete bilateral trade cooperation. This committee provides a formal, direct path for the customs barriers to be addressed, industrial standards harmonized, and the industrial progress monitored on a regular basis in both Uzbek and Syrian administrations.
This regulatory supervision will be essential for facilitating trade between the two regions and eliminating the historical hurdles that have hampered trade between the two regions in the past, as it will be followed by state media outlets such as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Launching the Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council
The private sector is an enabler to sustainable commerce alongside the government framework. In order to close the gap between the government officials of the two countries and businesspeople, the two countries officially opened the Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council.
This council is specifically intended to prevent the usual delays that a classic bureaucracy would cause, and so improve the direct linkage between B2B. In the near future, the following activities are planned: an ambitious joint business forum, which will gather top entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors from the two countries. Establishing these direct connections, as pointed out by the Arab News global commerce reports, enables on-the-spot discussion on joint industrial and commercial projects and thereby jumpstarts long-term investment projects on the spot.
The 2026–2028 Roadmap and Future Initiatives
The two ministries agreed to work out a comprehensive roadmap for 2026–2028 to make the news of the MoU between the two countries come to life and lead to tangible development. The Tashkent talks will be followed by specific deadlines and milestones in this strategic plan to put in action the agreements reached during the talks.
The key focus areas of this multi-year plan are to:
- Infrastructure & Manufacturing: Forming partnerships to facilitate large-scale industrial manufacturing and construction of infrastructure.
- Export Diversification: More trade in agricultural, textile, and technology products between the two regions.
- Investment Attraction: Developing appropriate legal/tax environment to attract foreign direct investment in selected commercial sectors.
The years of this roadmap are very carefully chosen. Syria is on track to achieve double-digit growth in 2026 given the macro-economic projections of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of stabilization in the internal markets. Damascus’ ties with a booming economy like that of Uzbekistan can become critical avenues for supply lines and investment funds needed to support this strong economic revival in Syria.
Syria and Uzbekistan’s signing of an economic MoU is a watershed in cross-regional diplomacy. Both countries are taking the next step in replacing the temporary trade arrangements with permanent, actionable ones, by officially starting the Joint Economic and Trade Committee and the private-sector-led Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council. The revitalised bilateral trade cooperation will launch powerful investments programmes, supported by a precise roadmap for development, which will significantly strengthen further recovery of the Syrian economy and give it new market dominance to Uzbekistan.
FAQs – Syria Uzbekistan trade deal
Q1: What does the new Syria and Uzbekistan economic MoU entail?
A: The memorandum creates Joint Commercial and Economic Committee and approves the 2026 – 2028 roadmap aimed to amplify trade and economic partnership and promote investments between countries.
Q2: Who signed the trade agreement in Tashkent?
A: The trade agreement was signed on September 18, 2026, by Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, and Muhammad Nidal al-Shaar, Minister of Economy and Industry of Syria.
Q3: What is the purpose of the Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council?
A: The Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council was set up in order to create direct B2B connection between businessmen enabling them to cooperate in establishing new industrial projects and investments without complicated bureaucracy.
Discover More Insights
Explore Cairo inflation middle class impact?
Discover how rising prices are affecting savings and daily life.
Check Algeria power plant deadline extension?
Explore updates on the 1.2GW energy project timeline.
Discover Turkey new electricity tariff changes?
Check how updated pricing will impact households and businesses.
Explore Qatar initiative boosting Syria power?
Discover efforts aimed at strengthening Syria’s electricity generation.
Check Beirut balcony lighting energy tips?
Explore efficient lighting ideas for Ramadan and beyond.
