Uzbekistan considers buying ships from Turkmenistan for transportation across the Caspian Sea
24.08.2025 | 20:20 |
Uzbekistan is discussing the possibility of buying ships from a shipyard in Turkmenistan. As stated by Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov, its own ferries will speed up the transportation of goods across the Caspian Sea and reduce traffic congestion, which can take 30-40 days.
For Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are of key importance in the field of transport and logistics, since both countries are important participants in the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian Transport Route). This was stated by Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel, Gazeta.uz reports.
"For Uzbekistan, these two states, if we take into account the transport industry, transport and logistics, they are very important, because this is the development of the Middle Corridor, which today is one of the most priority and relevant corridors for Uzbekistan. Both Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are direct participants in the Middle Corridor. And both states, which have port facilities and which ensure timely and safe transportation and crossing of the Caspian Sea, play a key role," the Minister said.
According to the head of the Ministry of Transport, Uzbekistan's relations with these countries in the transport sector are currently developing "very successfully and favorably." Following the trilateral summit between Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, the parties signed a memorandum in the field of transport and logistics cooperation.
The document provides for the creation of joint ventures that will ensure "seamless and timely" passage of goods. It also assumes the provision of certain preferences for the transportation of goods in both directions, as well as in transit through Uzbekistan.
The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan reported on agreements with Turkmen colleagues in the field of shipbuilding. He and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Mammetkhan Chakyev signed a memorandum of understanding on the development of cooperation in the field of shipbuilding. Uzbekistan plans to operate ferries on the Caspian Sea to speed up the transportation of goods, given the growing volume of transportation.
"We agreed that we will analyze and consider the issue of purchasing ships from Turkmen shipyards," Makhkamov noted, adding that the signed document will allow freely working out all technical and economic issues.
In Ashgabat, a protocol on the development of cooperation in the field of civil aviation was also signed between Ilkhom Makhkamov and Chairman of "Turkmenkhovayollary" Dovran Saburov.
Makhkamov noted that this document creates the preconditions for the establishment of direct air service in the future.
"Today there are no direct flights with Turkmenistan. We have signed a document, and in the near future it will be possible to launch bilateral flights between the countries," the head of the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan said.
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