Iran’s trade with Uzbekistan stood at 776,137 tons worth $517 million in the fiscal 2021-22 (ended March 20), registering a 103% growth compared with the previous year, according to Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Iran’s exports were at 714,491 tons worth $402 million during the period, registering a 146% year-on-year growth.
Dairy and agricultural products, construction materials, bitumen, minerals, petrochemicals, chemicals, sanitary products, pipes and profiles, home appliances, fabrics, flooring, iron products, industrial machinery and furniture were the main goods exported to Uzbekistan during the period, IRNA reported.
Imports hit 62,000 tons worth $115 million, registering a 26% YOY growth.
The imports mainly included yarn, cotton, silk, cloth, beans, millet and kaolin.
Latifi noted that exports to Uzbekistan in the first quarter of the current year (March 21-June 21) stood at $46.35 million, while imports hit $14.15 million.
Uzbekistan holds the rotating presidency of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Iran will be admitted to Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year, with a memorandum on the country's obligations to be signed at a summit in Samarkand, which will take place from September 15-16, Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister, Vladimir Norov, said on Monday.
According to RIA Novosti, speaking at a penal meeting in Moscow, Norov said, "This year, within Uzbekistan's chairmanship, Iran, as an observer state will ... become a full-fledged member of the SCO. Besides, a memorandum on Iran's obligations as an SCO member will also be signed in Samarkand."
SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
The organization currently has eight full members – China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, whil Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are observer states.
Iran came one step closer to becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Sept. 17 last year with the approval of its bid, 15 years after it first applied. On Sept. 17, 2021, SCO launched the procedures of Iran's accession to SCO, which are expected to take "a fair amount of time".
SCO’s dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey. ASEAN, CIS, Turkmenistan and the United Nations are attending as guests.
Initially focused on regional security, including border conflicts and terrorism, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement. However, security and economic cooperation remain priorities.
China and Russia are dominant members. Russia regards Central Asia as its sphere of influence, but Chinese economic sway is growing. At an informal level, SCO is a diplomatic platform that helps address and contain potential friction, Asia Plus reported.
