Analysis of the Implementation of Economic Initiatives within the OTS

The Evolution of Uzbekistan’s Initiatives

Since President Mirziyoyev’s first participation in the OTS summit in 2018, Uzbekistan has consistently advanced concrete proposals in the fields of economics, transport, digital technologies, ecology, and humanitarian cooperation.

At the Cholpon-Ata summit, the focus was on the development of trade and transport corridors. In Baku in 2019, Uzbekistan initiated the idea of a forum for young entrepreneurs. During the pandemic, it proposed creating “green corridors” and simplifying logistics. At the Samarkand summit in 2022, the agenda expanded to the creation of a common space for new economic opportunities and the launch of the Turkic Investment Fund. In 2023–2024, Uzbekistan proposed establishing a Turkic Development Bank, a Council of Railway Administrations, and signing agreements on digital document circulation. In 2025, the emphasis shifted to logistics: at the informal summit in Budapest, Uzbekistan proposed accelerating the introduction of “single window” systems and “green corridors” along the Trans-Caspian route.

Thus, over seven years Uzbekistan’s initiatives have acquired a systemic character, forming a long-term strategy for economic integration, investment activity, and industrial cooperation among OTS countries.

Implementation of Initiatives Announced at Summits

The past OTS summits demonstrated that a significant portion of initiatives voiced by Uzbekistan have moved from declarative stage to practical implementation.

Foremost is the launch of the Turkic Investment Fund. The decision to establish it was adopted in Samarkand in 2022, formally registered in Ankara in 2023, and entered into force in early 2024. In February 2025, at the OTS Business Forum in Azerbaijan, a decision was made to increase the Fund’s authorized capital by 20% — from $500 million to $600 million — with Uzbekistan contributing $100 million.

The Fund has already begun supporting joint projects, which can be considered the main achievement in the field of financial integration. At the same time, the proposal to establish a Turkic Development Bank remains under discussion and is seen as the next step toward shaping a common financial architecture.

Progress is also evident in the transport and logistics agenda. At Uzbekistan’s initiative, negotiations were launched to create a Council of Railway Administrations, and documents were agreed upon for the introduction of electronic permits and the e-TIR system. These tools provide the foundation for a future unified digital transport space, though for now they remain at the stage of pilot projects and roadmaps.

The proposal to implement “green corridors” and “single window” systems along the Middle Corridor was also reflected in final documents, but remains in the preparatory stage. As a concrete step, an OTS International Forum on Multimodal Transport and Logistics is scheduled to be held in Tashkent in November 2025.

Cooperation mechanisms in the investment sphere are also developing. In June 2025, at a meeting in Tashkent, the TurkIPAnet network of investment promotion agencies was established, bringing together institutions of the OTS member states.

Overall, initiatives such as the Turkic Investment Fund, the digitalization of trade and transport procedures, and the institutionalization of dialogue in the financial sphere through the creation of the Council of Central Banks have already been implemented or are in active progress.

The Economic Potential of OTS Countries

The combined population of the Turkic states exceeds 175 million people, with GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) amounting to $5.6 trillion, and foreign trade turnover surpassing $1.2 trillion in 2024. However, intra-regional trade accounts for only about 5% of this volume. At the same time, the economies of the OTS states are largely complementary, offering significant opportunities for industrial cooperation and mutual exports.

The OTS countries possess considerable reserves of rare earth resources and a developed manufacturing sector. Harnessing this potential will allow for the expansion of mutual trade and strengthening of industrial cooperation within the OTS.

Uzbekistan in the OTS Economy

The OTS countries account for 14.5% of Uzbekistan’s foreign trade. Over the past eight years, trade turnover has nearly tripled — from $3.34 billion to $9.5 billion. Exports grew to $3.5 billion, while imports reached $6.1 billion. The main partners are Kazakhstan ($4.3 billion), Turkey ($2.9 billion), Turkmenistan ($1.2 billion), and Kyrgyzstan ($846 million).

Industrial goods account for 33% of Uzbekistan’s exports, machinery and equipment for 23%, followed by food and chemical products. According to CERR estimates, Uzbekistan could further increase exports to OTS countries by $2.7 billion, including $1.8 billion to Turkey, $500 million to Kazakhstan, $200 million to Hungary, and $100 million to Kyrgyzstan.

Investment cooperation has also shown positive dynamics. Between 2017 and 2024, OTS member states invested over $7.5 billion in Uzbekistan, while the number of joint ventures grew 4.5 times. Turkey is the leading investor, with $1.8 billion invested in construction, textiles, and logistics.

CERR analysis also indicates additional opportunities to expand cooperation with OTS countries in textiles, apparel and leather, jewelry, food production, construction materials, and other industries.

Investment Cooperation Among OTS Countries

Positive dynamics are also observed in the attraction of investments from OTS states into Uzbekistan’s economy, with the total exceeding $7.5 billion between 2017 and 2024. This highlights the strategic interest of OTS countries in long-term cooperation. Since 2017, the number of enterprises with OTS capital has increased 4.5 times, reaching 3,600 by the end of 2024.

Turkey has become the leading investor, accounting for nearly 80% of total OTS investments in Uzbekistan, with $1.8 billion directed mainly into construction, textiles, and logistics — underscoring Turkey’s interest in cooperating in strategically important sectors of Uzbekistan’s economy.

Conclusion

The OTS summits have demonstrated that the organization already has the foundation for systemic economic integration. Uzbekistan’s proposals — including the creation of the Turkic Investment Fund and Development Bank, the launch of “green corridors” and digital trade platforms, the establishment of transport councils, and the holding of annual economic forums — have set a trajectory that must be further strengthened.

The next steps should focus on institutionalizing these initiatives and turning them into functioning mechanisms rather than declarations. It is important to accelerate practical efforts to harmonize customs procedures and digital document circulation so that the Trans-Caspian and other transport routes become globally competitive.

At the same time, joint financing instruments (the Turkic Investment Fund and Development Bank) should be strengthened to serve as the backbone of cooperative projects in industry, agriculture, and energy. Special attention must also be given to sustainable development, green economy projects, ecology, and food security.

The experience of recent years shows that Uzbekistan has become a driver of economic integration within the OTS. The key task for the next stage, however, is to transform these initiatives into sustainable institutions.

Obid Khakimov,  

Director of the Center for
Economic Research and Reforms