rki.news | Doha, Qatar — September 7, 2026
The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Doha hosted a special Breakfast Briefing for members of the media on Monday to mark Uzbekistan’s 35th anniversary of independence, with H.E. Dr. Ashraf Khodjaev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the State of Qatar, welcoming journalists and briefing them on the country’s development, reform journey and expanding relations with Qatar.
The briefing was held under the theme “Uzbekistan: 35th Anniversary of Independence and 10 Years under the Leadership of President Mirziyoyev.” The event provided an opportunity to reflect on Uzbekistan’s achievements since gaining independence in 1991 and particularly on the transformation witnessed during the past decade. The programme was held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Doha from 9:00 to 10:00am.
Strong and growing Qatar Uzbekistan relations
During his briefing, Ambassador Dr. Ashraf Khodjaev placed particular emphasis on the rapidly developing relations between Uzbekistan and Qatar, describing the two countries as increasingly important partners linking Central Asia with the Gulf.
Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Uzbekistan were established in 1997, while bilateral cooperation has expanded significantly in recent years across trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, tourism, education, agriculture, culture and finance.
The Ambassador highlighted 2023 as a landmark year in bilateral relations, particularly the historic state visit of His Highness the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to Uzbekistan in June 2023. It was the first visit by a Qatari Amir to Uzbekistan and opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
During the visit, Qatar and Uzbekistan signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering investment, trade, taxation, education, culture, agriculture, tourism and other areas.
The momentum continued with the state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan to Qatar in October 2023. The two leaders discussed ways to further elevate bilateral relations and witnessed the signing of additional agreements and memoranda aimed at strengthening cooperation.
In December 2023, His Highness the Amir made another working visit to Tashkent to attend the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony, further demonstrating the close and continuing high-level engagement between the two countries.
Strategic partnership enters new phase
Ambassador Khodjaev also highlighted the development of the Uzbekistan Qatar strategic partnership, which has moved beyond traditional diplomatic relations towards practical cooperation and investment.
The strategic partnership agreement signed in April 2024 established priority areas for cooperation, including trade, investment, transport, education, healthcare, culture, tourism and sports. The two countries have also established mechanisms for coordinating bilateral cooperation and developing concrete projects.
The Ambassador noted that trade between Uzbekistan and Qatar increased by more than 30 percent in 2025, while Uzbekistan’s exports to Qatar grew by more than 36 percent.
He highlighted opportunities for Qatari investment in Uzbekistan, particularly in energy, transport and logistics, agriculture, food security, tourism, real estate, manufacturing and infrastructure.
Uzbekistan’s transformation
Ambassador Khodjaev also briefed the media on Uzbekistan’s reform programme under President Mirziyoyev. Since 2016, the country has pursued wide-ranging economic and social reforms aimed at modernising the economy, improving the investment climate, reducing poverty and expanding international cooperation.
According to the briefing material, Uzbekistan’s GDP has increased approximately threefold, while foreign trade turnover has risen nearly fivefold. The national poverty rate has declined from 35 percent to 4 percent, while foreign investment and the number of enterprises with foreign capital have increased substantially.
The country has also made significant progress in renewable energy, infrastructure, digitalisation and industrial development, while strengthening its cooperation with neighbouring Central Asian states and international partners.
Looking ahead
The media briefing underlined that Uzbekistan’s 35th Independence Anniversary is not only a celebration of the country’s achievements but also an opportunity to look towards the next stage of development.
For Qatar and Uzbekistan, the growing political, economic and people-to-people ties provide a strong foundation for further cooperation.
Ambassador Dr. Ashraf Khodjaev emphasised the importance of continued engagement between the two countries, with expanding investment, trade, tourism, education and cultural exchanges expected to further strengthen the relationship.
The evolving Qatar Uzbekistan partnership represents an important bridge between the Gulf and Central Asia and reflects the shared commitment of both countries to building.
