ISTANBUL
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on Monday launched a joint border trade zone to expand interregional ties.
The Shovot-Dashoguz joint border trade zone’s launch was announced during a state visit by Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Uzbek capital Tashkent, where he met with his counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Following narrow and expanded negotiations, the presidents took part in a ceremony for the zone’s launch, according to a statement by the Uzbek presidency.
“The zone's activities will serve to expand trade and economic ties between two important regions with a combined population of over 3.5 million — the Khorazm region of Uzbekistan and the Dashoguz region of Turkmenistan,” the statement added.
The zone's territory includes administrative buildings, customs, quarantine, phytosanitary and veterinary services, as well as a trade pavilion and warehouse facilities, it noted.
During his visit, Berdimuhamedov was also presented with Uzbekistan’s highest state award, the Order of Oliy Darajali Dustlik.