Tashkent: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, invited the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni, arrived in Uzbekistan an official two-day visit.
This visit marks a significant milestone in the modern history of Uzbek–Italian relations, which began in March 1992. Shortly after the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Embassy of Italy opened in Tashkent, and in 1998 Uzbekistan inaugurated its diplomatic mission in Rome.
Since 2021 and 2023, respectively, honorary consulates of Uzbekistan have been operating in Florence and Milan, contributing to the strengthening and expansion of people-to-people and economic diplomacy.
In recent years, the interaction between the two nations has gained new momentum. On June 8-9, 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Italy. As a result of this visit, a Joint Declaration on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries was adopted.
Subsequently, on November 9-11 of the same year, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.
The political dialogue is being actively maintained at the highest level. In December 2019 and September 2021, the Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan and Italy exchanged visits, and in May 2024, they met again in Rome on the sidelines of the 3rd Ministerial Conference “Italy – Central Asia”. It is noteworthy that Rome was the first among European capitals to initiate this ministerial-level dialogue with Central Asia back in 2019.
In addition, the foreign ministries of the two countries regularly hold political consultations.
Interparliamentary relations are also steadily developing. Since 2011, parliamentary groups in the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan have been operating to facilitate cooperation with the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Parliament of Italy. In 2012, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. In April 2023, an “Italy–Central Asia” friendship group was also established in the Italian Parliament.
A parliamentary delegation from Italy, led by Chairman of value Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Italy, Pier Ferdinando Casini, participated in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, held on April 5-9, 2025, in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan and Italy also maintain close cooperation within the framework of international organizations and associations such as UN, OSCE, EU, and others. Italy supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization and to conclude an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. The sides are also actively engaged in the framework of the “Italy–Central Asia” dialogue, which is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.
Trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and Italy have shown steady growth. The volume of mutual trade increased from USD 172.2 million in 2017 to nearly USD 438 million in 2024. This growth has been significantly supported by the Most Favoured Nation trading regime in force between the two countries, as well as by the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), of which our country became a beneficiary in 2021.
The Bilateral Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade, Economic, and Industrial Cooperation and Export Credits, which has been operating since 1992, also plays an important role in advancing economic cooperation and expanding bilateral collaboration.
Ahead of the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Italy in June 2023, a Uzbekistan–Italy Business Forum was held in Rome, attended by more than 200 entrepreneurs and companies from both countries. As a result of the forum, 38 investment agreements, 13 technological partnership agreements, and 13 export contracts were signed, with a total value of EUR 9.2 billion.
During his visit, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also met with the heads of Italy’s leading companies and industrial associations. This meeting was held in Milan in the format of a roundtable discussion.
On September 7–8, 2023, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Edmondo Cirielli, participated in the International Conference on Food Security held under the auspices of FAO in Samarkand.
Later, in October 2024, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, Alisher Shukurov, met with the Minister of Agriculture of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida in Rome.
Entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan regularly take part in prestigious annual international exhibitions such as “Tuttofood” (food industry, May, Milan), “Macfrut” (fruit and vegetable industry, May, Rimini), “Simac Tanning Tech” (leather and footwear industry, September, Milan), “TTG Rimini” (tourism industry, October, Rimini), and “Artigiano in Fiera” (applied arts, December, Milan).
There are 55 enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with the participation of Italian investment, including 24 with 100% Italian capital. In addition, 9 Italian companies and the “Italy–Uzbekistan” Chamber of Commerce are officially accredited with the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.
Projects involving Italian investment and technology are being implemented in our country in areas such as the modernization and reconstruction of gas distribution systems, the launch of luxury railway cruises, saffron cultivation in the Jizzakh region, and the development of livestock farming.
The establishment of regular direct flights between Tashkent, Milan, and Rome in March 2023 has also contributed to the expansion and strengthening of business cooperation.
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation represents an important dimension of Uzbek–Italian relations. Since September 1998, the “Uzbekistan–Italy” Friendship Society has been actively operating in the country.
Branches of the University of Turin and the University of Pisa are successfully operating in Uzbekistan. In 2023, a branch of the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli was opened in Bukhara.
In September 2024, the first Uzbekistan–Italy Rectors’ Forum was held in Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, bringing together leaders of 45 Uzbek and 23 Italian higher education institutions.
On April 25, 2025, a roundtable discussion was held in Samarkand with the participation of rectors from higher education institutions of both countries, during which 6 documents in the fields of science and education were signed.
The year 2024 in Italy was rich in cultural events dedicated to Uzbekistan. From April 15 to June 30, 2024, in Florence, and from April 16 to June 30, 2024, at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the exhibition “Uzbekistan: Avant-Garde in the Desert” was held. From December 4 to 9, 2024, the Days of Uzbek culture took place in Rome, Milan, and Viareggio.
Representatives from Italy regularly participate in the International Music Festival “Sharq Taronalari”, which take place in Samarkand. Italian performers have repeatedly won the Grand Prix and special prizes of the festival.
In turn, in 2018, at the 19th Asiatica International Asian Film Festival in Rome, the film “Tahir and Zuhra” was awarded a special diploma for its contribution to the development of world cinema and the promotion of universal human values.
For the fifth consecutive year, from 2021 to 2025, National Pavilion of Uzbekistan has enjoyed strong interest from Italian and international visitors at the Venice International Biennale of Architecture and Art. On May 8, 2025, National Pavilion of Uzbekistan was officially opened at the 19th Venice International Biennale of Architecture.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
