Uzbekistan and Türkiye customs sign a 2027

Uzbekistan and Türkiye customs sign a 2027–2028 cooperation plan

The sixth meeting of the Joint Customs Council took place in Istanbul, co-chaired by Uzbekistan’s customs chief Akmalhodja Mavlonov. The sides reaffirmed their goal of increasing trade turnover to $5 billion and agreed to mutually recognize authorized economic operator programs.

The customs authorities of Uzbekistan and Türkiye signed a package of documents aimed at facilitating trade between the two countries in the coming years. The sixth meeting of the Uzbek-Turkish Joint Customs Council was held in Istanbul on November 10. The meeting was co-chaired by Uzbekistan’s customs chief Akmalhodja Mavlonov and Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Trade Sezai Uçarmak.

Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade said the sides reaffirmed their intention to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion. The meeting addressed cooperation in customs control and combating smuggling, the mutual recognition of authorized economic operator (AEO) programs, and joint projects within the Organization of Turkic States.

What was signed in Istanbul

Following the meeting, the co-chairs signed a Cooperation Plan for 2027–2028, an Action Plan for the mutual recognition of AEO programs, and a Memorandum of Understanding adopted by the council’s sixth session. Mutual recognition of AEO status generally allows reliable exporting companies to undergo simplified customs procedures in both countries.

The sides also outlined joint work on an additional protocol that will enable the practical implementation of the protocol on exchanging advance information about vehicles and goods crossing the borders of the two countries. Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat signed that protocol at the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States on October 29.

Tashkent and Ankara broaden their agenda

The customs agreements continue a series of contacts between the two countries in November. The previous day, on the sidelines of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Uzbekistan and Türkiye agreed to cooperate in the field of the circular economy.

Photo: Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade

Uzbekistan and Türkiye customs sign a 2027–2028 cooperation plan