The first meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek Business Council took place in Dushanbe on March, according to Tajik state-run news agency Khovar. 

The meeting that brought together more than 120 entrepreneurs reportedly focused on issues related to further expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, creation of favorable conditions for mutual trade and enhancement of mutual delivery of industrial goods.  

According to Khovar, the two sides hope for expansion of investment cooperation aimed at supporting the mutually beneficial projects. 

The meeting participants noted that further expansion of many-sided cooperation between the two countries was one of priorities of foreign policies of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  

The meeting resulted in signing of a protocol.  The document reportedly provides for further expansion of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.   

The next meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek Business Council will take place in Tashkent in the second half-year of 2018.  

According to data of the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan last year valued at US$126 million.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Uzbekistan estimated at US$57 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Uzbekistan worth US$69 million.