ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AS A CATALYST FOR UZBEKISTAN'S REGIONAL INFLUENCE IN CENTRAL ASIA
Abstract
The article outlines the role of economic diplomacy in developing Uzbekistan's regional influence within Central Asia by reviewing strategic steps taken by Uzbekistan in promoting regional trade, attracting foreign investment, and developing critical infrastructure capable of positioning it as a central hub for economic connectivity. Trade liberalization, energy partnership, and joint infrastructure projects-central elements of the economic diplomacy of Uzbekistan-are analyzed here in light of their impact on regional cooperation and economic growth. The article further touches on other challenges, barriers, and geopolitical conflicts and provides some views on overcoming them. It also explains that Uzbekistan, by taking proactive initiatives, attaches importance to economic diplomacy in terms of regional integration and sustainable development in Central Asia.
Keywords
Economic diplomacy, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, regional influenceHow to Cite
Downloads
References
Asian Development Bank (2020). Central Asia energy security: Managing shared resources for sustainable growth. ADB. https://www.adb.org/publications/central-asia-energy-security-managing-shared-resources-sustainable-growth
Gorbachev, G., & Abdullayev, M. (2020). Bureaucratic inefficiencies in Uzbekistan's economic diplomacy: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Central Asian Economics, 5(3), 67-83. https://www.jcae.eurasianresearch.org/
International Monetary Fund (IMF). (2020). Uzbekistan: Managing growth and investment climate. IMF Reports. https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/UZB
Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019). Central Asian cooperation: Trade and investment perspectives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
Link: https://www.mfa.kz/en/content/central-asia-cooperation
Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2019). Central Asian cooperation: Trade and investment perspectives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. https://mfa.gov.kz/en
Shavkat Mirziyoyev. (2021). Uzbekistan’s foreign policy strategy in Central Asia: A new era of cooperation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. https://mfa.uz/en
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2021). Renewable energy development in Uzbekistan: Strategic priorities. UNDP Uzbekistan. https://www.undp.org/uzbekistan
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). (2020). Regional integration in Central Asia: Uzbekistan’s role in fostering economic cooperation. ESCAP. https://www.unescap.org/
World Bank. (2021). Infrastructure and regional integration in Central Asia. World Bank Reports. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca/brief/central-asia
World Economic Forum (WEF). (2020). Uzbekistan's economic reforms and foreign investment opportunities. WEF Insights. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/uzbekistan-economic-reforms-investment-2020.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shirin Fatkhullaevna Abboskhujaeva (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
