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The Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade in the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudretov affirmed that the next five years will witness significant growth in the volume of trade and mutual investments between the State of Qatar and Uzbekistan, with Qatari investments moving from the stage of studying opportunities to active implementation in the energy, infrastructure, industry and finance sectors.He noted that Uzbekistan represents a strategic gateway to the markets of central Asia and beyond, which enhances the regional expansion opportunities for Qatari investors.In an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Uzbek Minister said that economic and investment relations between Qatar and Uzbekistan are witnessing steady development, supported by the strategic partnership agreement that Uzbekistan ratified in 2025. He noted that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries increased by more than 30% last year, while Uzbek exports to Qatar recorded growth exceeding 36%.The Minister added that the greatest momentum in bilateral cooperation is concentrated in seven key sectors: transport and logistics infrastructure, energy, chemical industries, agriculture, education and tourism, in addition to exploring promising opportunities in the pharmaceutical, mining and financial sectors, including the possibility of Qatari banks entering the Uzbek market.Regarding joint projects, the Uzbek Minister noted the work to reach a preferential trade agreement between the two countries, and the organization of the 'Made in Uzbekistan' exhibition in Doha this year, in addition to developing projects in the mining, metal processing, building materials and chemical industries sectors. He emphasized that there is an opportunity for Qatari investments in power generation projects, oil and gas exploration and production, real estate, smart cities and tourism infrastructure.He added that the energy sector is a top priority for Qatari investors, along with the processing of vital minerals, manufacturing industries and building materials, in addition to the services sector, which is witnessing remarkable growth in the fields of financial technology and artificial intelligence, as Uzbek services exports reached about $10 billion. He noted that these opportunities are supported by economic reforms and increasing institutional stability.Concluding his statement to QNA, the Minister stressed that the private sector represents the main driver of bilateral economic relations, pointing to the development of its capabilities in Uzbekistan to work with foreign investors and establish partnerships and joint projects, in addition to activating economic dialogue platforms in Tashkent and Doha, adopting digital mechanisms to follow up on projects and monitor risks, as well as the role of the Foreign Investors Council in solving the challenges facing investors.

Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) CEO Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani held a meeting with Laziz Shavkatovich Kudratov, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, during a recent visit to Qatar with his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation efforts to strengthen economic relations in investment and trade between the two countries. The meeting also highlighted the investment opportunities and outstanding benefits offered by Qatar’s free zones to attract Uzbek companies to invest and establish their businesses in Qatar. The meeting was attended by senior officials from QFZ and was followed by an introductory tour in the Business Innovation Park at Ras Bufontas Free Zone. 

The Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs His Excellency Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sayed held a meeting Sunday with Laziz Kudratov, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, who is currently visiting the country. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment cooperation between Qatar and Uzbekistan. They also discussed promising areas of partnership between the two countries, including investment projects and opportunities to enhance economic cooperation, as well as several topics of mutual interest. 

The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is participating in the fifth edition of the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF 2026), being held in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, over three days under the theme "Investment Resilience: New Horizons and New Partnerships.”The Ministry’s participation in the forum reflects Qatar’s commitment to strengthening its economic relations with the Republic of Uzbekistan and enhancing its active presence in Central Asia as a promising and rapidly growing investment destination.The forum brings together a distinguished group of senior government officials, international investors, and multilateral institutions to showcase investment opportunities in key sectors, most notably financial infrastructure, energy sector transformation, trade corridors, logistics services, and industrial development.The participation of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry also reflects Qatar’s strategic direction toward expanding its economic partnerships in emerging markets and reinforcing the position of its institutions as active partners within the global investment ecosystem.

 Uzbekistan’s newly inaugurated Islamic Civilisation Centre reflects the country’s efforts to preserve the legacy of renowned Muslim scholars while strengthening cultural co-operation with Qatar and the wider Islamic world, ambassador Ashraf Khodjaev has said.Speaking at a presentation in Doha dedicated to the Islamic Civilisation Centre, the envoy described the institution as a major national project initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2017 and inaugurated recently.The event was attended by a number of dignitaries, including HE the Minister of State and Qatar National Library (QNL) President Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, HE the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Secretary-General and Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilisations Chairman Dr Ahmad Hassan al-Hammadi, MoFA Protocol Department director Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, HE the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and chairman of the Board of Directors for the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, and Katara Cultural Village general manager Prof Dr Khalid Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, in addition several ambassadors and diplomats.Khodjaev said the centre holds special significance not only for Uzbekistan but also for the broader Islamic world, highlighting the country’s rich intellectual and spiritual heritage rooted in the historic cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.He noted that the region produced some of the Islamic world’s most influential scholars and scientists, including Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Maturidi, al-Khwarizmi, al-Beruni and Mirzo Ulugbek, whose contributions shaped the development of mathematics, astronomy, medicine and philosophy.“The Islamic Civilisation Centre was created to preserve and present this extraordinary legacy in a modern and meaningful way, particularly for younger generations,” Khodjaev said.He described the centre as more than a museum, saying that it is envisioned as a platform for education, research, dialogue and cultural exchange.Khodjaev also lauded Qatar’s role in promoting culture, education and diplomacy, citing institutions such as the QNL, Katara, Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and Education City.“Both of our countries recognise that long-term development is ultimately built not only through infrastructure and economic growth, but through investment in people, education, culture and historical memory,” he said.The envoy stressed the importance of helping younger generations remain connected to their identity, values and intellectual heritage, especially in a rapidly changing world.He also highlighted Central Asia’s historical role as a crossroads of civilisations where knowledge, trade and ideas connected different parts of the world.Khodjaev thanked Al Jazeera Media Network for supporting plans to produce documentary films about the Islamic Civilisation Centre and other historical landmarks and personalities from Uzbekistan.The ambassador invited people in Qatar to visit Uzbekistan and explore its cultural and historical landmarks, including the newly inaugurated Imam Al-Bukhari Complex in Samarkand, which he described as one of the region’s most important spiritual and cultural projects.He also revealed ongoing co-operation between the MIA and the QNL on a special publication featuring artefacts and manuscripts linked to Uzbekistan’s history that are preserved in museums across Qatar.Khodjaev thanked Qatari officials and institutions for supporting efforts to deepen cultural and intellectual ties between Uzbekistan and Qatar. 

 Qatar is exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral co-operation and identify partnership opportunities in Uzbekistan in strategic projects as part of measures to support economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries.In this regard, HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, headed Qatar’s delegation during an official visit to Tashkent, where he held a series of bilateral meetings with several senior officials, including Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister; Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance; Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade; and Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, Minister of Energy.The meetings discussed ways to strengthen bilateral co-operation and explored partnership and investment opportunities across a number of priority sectors, including infrastructure, transport, and other fields that reflect both countries’ aspirations to expand economic co-operation and advance shared interests.On the sidelines of the visit, al-Sayed and Kudratov co-chaired the Qatari-Uzbek roundtable meeting with the participation of representatives from the public and private sectors of both the countries.The Qatari minister highlighted the importance Doha places on this strategic partnership and its interest in exploring new opportunities for co-operation and long-term investment.The two sides also discussed opportunities for co-operation in strategic projects and reviewed investment opportunities available to Qatari investors and institutions.In addition, they explored mechanisms to strengthen co-operation between the public and private sectors and activate the Joint Qatari-Uzbek Business Council, in a manner that supports the establishment of sustainable economic partnerships between the two countries.Qatar’s delegation included senior executive officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Investment Authority, Investment Promotion Agency Qatar, Qatar Chamber, Qatar Airways, Qatar Development Bank, and Qatar Fund for Development. 

His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met Monday with Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov, who is visiting the country.  The two sides discussed bilateral relations and means to enhance and develop them. The meeting also addressed the latest regional developments, particularly those related to the ceasefire between the US and Iran as well as ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions in support of regional security and stability.  The PM underscored the importance of all parties engaging constructively in ongoing mediation efforts, noting that such engagement would help address the root causes of the crisis through dialogue and peaceful means, and contribute to achieving a sustainable agreement that prevents further escalation.

CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani met on Thursday with ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the State of Qatar, Dr Ashraf Khodjaev, reports QNA. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in investment attraction between the two countries. The meeting also highlighted the investment opportunities and outstanding benefits offered by Qatar's free zones to attract Uzbek companies to invest and establish their businesses in Qatar. The meeting was attended by senior officials from QFZ and was followed by an introductory tour of the Business Innovation Park at Ras Bufontas Free Zone. 

Qatar wrapped up its campaign at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh with three medals — a silver in fencing and bronze medals in handball and athletics — bringing its overall tally to 11 (3 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze).The men’s foil team of Khalid al-Yafei, Adham al-Deeb and Abdullah Khalifa won silver after a tight 43-45 loss to Uzbekistan in the final, having beaten the UAE in the semi-finals. The men’s and women’s epee teams were eliminated in the Round of 16.Qatar’s handball team claimed bronze after a 36–28 win over the UAE, overcoming the disappointment of a narrow semi-final defeat to Bahrain. They topped their group with three victories before finishing the tournament with a 4–1 record.In athletics, Abubaker Haydar secured bronze in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:46.26, while Moaz Ibrahim was placed fourth in the discus throw. In camel racing, Hazam Abdullah al-Nadeela finished fourth in the 2km event at Al-Janadriyah.

HE the Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari met separately with the Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide; the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Kuchkarov; and the Minister of Oil and Gas of the State of Libya, Dr Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadiq.The meetings were held on the margin of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, held in Washington, DC. During the meetings, bilateral relations were discussed, areas of joint co-operation were explored, and key economic, investment, and trade developments were discussed, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call on Friday from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev.During the call, the Uzbek President affirmed his solidarity with the State of Qatar and his country's strong condemnation of the Israeli attack, stressing that it is a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security of the State of Qatar and the countries of the region.Dr. Mirziyoyev also emphasized the role of His Highness the Amir and the State of Qatar in resolving conflicts and mediating efforts around the world.For his part, His Highness the Amir affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to protect its security and territorial integrity and preserve its sovereignty in the face of the treacherous Israeli attack.His Highness the Amir expressed his thanks and appreciation to the President and the Uzbek people for their sincere feelings and appreciated solidarity with the State of Qatar and its people.

The Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) received a media delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan, headed by Mamdamni Safarov, vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan and director of Uzbekistan 24 Television and Radio, to enhance media co-operation and exchange of expertise between the two countries.The delegation was received by Ali Saleh al-Sada, director of Qatar TV, and Mohammed Nasser al-Mohannadi, director of Qatar Radio, and was briefed on the Corporation's various facilities.The tour included the radio building and Qatar TV studios, as well as the technical departments that form the backbone of media work in the country.During the tour, QMC officials briefed the delegation on the nature of daily media work, the mechanisms for producing programmes and news bulletins, and the latest technologies used in broadcasting, radio and television, including modern control systems and production studios equipped with the latest global equipment.The QMC reviewed its efforts to develop media content to meet the aspirations of viewers and listeners, and its role in conveying a true image of Qatari society and its openness to different cultures.This visit comes within the framework of the QMC's efforts to build bridges of international co-operation, highlight the media renaissance taking place in Qatar, and exchange ideas on the best contemporary media practices.The visit is expected to contribute to opening new horizons for bilateral co-operation, enhancing joint media presence.