German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concluded a two-day visit to Tashkent this week, signaling a significant deepening of relations between Germany and Uzbekistan. Speaking with Euronews, Steinmeier reflected on the transformation of Central Asia since he first championed a stronger German focus on the region as foreign minister in 2006.
“I am very grateful that during my career, during the last 20 years I was able to contribute to closer relations between our two countries, Uzbekistan and Germany, and to the relations between the European Union and Central Asia,” Steinmeier said. “It wasn't that easy in the beginning, but now, in the meanwhile, this visit and exchange with your political leader proves that it has become closer.”
The visit is part of a broader Asian tour that also included Indonesia and the Philippines, but the stop in Uzbekistan carried particular weight given the country's strategic location and growing economic potential. Steinmeier noted that “all the foundations, all the basis to closer cooperation, being in economic, business, or in cultural exchange, are great now.”
Economic Cooperation and Investment
Bilateral trade between Germany and Uzbekistan exceeded $1.4 billion (€1.21 billion) last year and has grown by an additional 5% since the start of 2024. German investment in Uzbekistan's economy has reached approximately $2 billion (€1.73 billion), making Germany one of Uzbekistan's most important European economic partners.
During the visit, both sides highlighted the outcomes of the Days of German Economy and the 10th meeting of the German-Uzbek Business Council, held in Tashkent in May, where investment and trade agreements worth more than $1 billion (around €870 million) were signed. Steinmeier welcomed new projects involving German companies, including investments in manufacturing, logistics, and workforce development. He specifically cited Volkswagen's plans and Henkel's new investment initiatives as examples of expanding economic cooperation.
“German technology is well known and recognised here,” Steinmeier said during remarks in Tashkent.
The two leaders also agreed to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to implement the agreements reached during the visit, covering sectors such as industry, energy, logistics, mining, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
Labor Mobility and Educational Exchanges
Labor emerged as a key theme, as Germany recently signed a migration and mobility agreement with Uzbekistan designed to facilitate the recruitment of qualified specialists for the German labor market. This comes as Germany faces labor shortages in several sectors, while Uzbekistan's population continues to grow.
Steinmeier noted strong interest in Germany among young Uzbeks: more than 400,000 people are currently learning German in Uzbekistan, and over 2,000 Uzbek students are studying at German universities. An agreement was also signed to establish an Uzbek-German University of Applied Sciences in Samarkand, a project both sides see as an important step in expanding educational cooperation.
The leaders supported plans to hold a second Forum of Universities and a third Uzbek-German Medical Forum in Tashkent. Beyond politics and business, Steinmeier visited the Centre for Islamic Civilisation in Tashkent, where he viewed exhibits dedicated to the pre-Islamic and Islamic history of Central Asia.
This visit underscores a broader trend of Europe engaging more deeply with Central Asia, a region that has gained strategic importance amid shifting global dynamics. For Germany, Uzbekistan offers not only economic opportunities but also a growing pool of skilled workers and a partner in cultural and educational exchange.
