Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan forge new educational partnership through joint initiative

Baku and Tashkent are set to introduce a joint degree programme in several fields of education, including food and electrical engineering, design, and business management.

A report by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation says that discussions about the initiative took place between representatives from both countries, Caliber.Az reports.

The Uzbek delegation, led by Deputy Minister Sarvarkhan Buzrukhanov, included officials from various higher educational institutions, while Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation headed by Shahin Sadigov, Chairman of the Economic Scientific Research Institute under the Ministry of Economy.

The meeting highlighted that the collaboration between the two countries in the field of higher education is entering a new phase.

"During the dialogue, we discussed the potential for launching a joint degree programme in food and electrical engineering, design, and business management, as well as conducting joint research to analyse the prospects for long-term socio-economic cooperation. We also addressed the establishment of an intergovernmental scientific advisory council," the report stated.

As a result of the meeting, both parties agreed to commence practical work on the discussed matters and outline roadmaps for future plans.

Thus, in the first half of current year, trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan reached $91 million. This figure marks a 14 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, representing the highest trade turnover for the first six months in over 13 years.

During this period, Azerbaijan imported goods worth $77 million from Uzbekistan, reflecting a significant rise of 36.2 per cent year-on-year. Key imports included refined copper wire, pipes, and tubes valued at $10.7 million; knitted fabrics at $9.45 million; car bodies at $6.5 million; and engines for land vehicles at $4 million.

Additional notable imports encompassed dried grapes, television receivers, air conditioners, carpets, pipe tobacco, peanuts, fresh apricots, paper products, and poultry eggs.

Conversely, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $14 million to Uzbekistan, a decrease of 40.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Key exports included aluminium alloys worth $3.25 million, white sugar at $2 million, fresh apples at $1.2 million, almonds and hazelnuts at $1.1 million, as well as varnishes, passenger cars, polyethylene, crude oil, dried peas, and starch.

By Aghakazim Guliyev