THE ROLE OF UZBEKISTAN’S GOODS EXPORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL ASIAN TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

Abstract

Uzbekistan occupies a strategically important position in Central Asia and plays an increasingly significant role in the region’s foreign trade and economic integration. The expansion of goods exports is one of the major factors contributing to Uzbekistan’s integration into regional and international markets. This article examines the role of Uzbekistan’s goods exports in the development of Central Asian trade relations, identifies major export commodities and destination markets, and evaluates the factors influencing export competitiveness. Particular attention is given to the geographical diversification of exports, industrial products, agricultural commodities, textiles, non-ferrous metals, chemical products, and machinery. The study applies comparative, statistical, structural, and analytical methods to assess Uzbekistan’s export position in Central Asia. The findings demonstrate that the country’s export potential is closely associated with the diversification of production, development of transport and logistics infrastructure, expansion of regional trade, and implementation of value-added production. Strengthening economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan can further increase the regional significance of Uzbekistan’s exports.