Prime Minister Babiš concluded his working visit to Central Asia with a visit to Uzbekistan. It brought economic cooperation and concrete results for
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, together with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, visited Uzbekistan from 29 to 30 April 2026. The delegation was accompanied by a business mission comprising around 50 representatives of Czech companies. The programme also included participation in a Czech-Uzbek business forum, meetings with the country’s top officials and visits to industrial enterprises. The Škoda Group has signed a contract worth billions for the supply and maintenance of electric trains.
Upon arrival in Tashkent, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček paid their respects by laying a wreath at the Monument to Independence. They then both spoke at the Czech-Uzbek Business Forum, which was attended by around 150 businesspeople from both countries; the Prime Minister spoke there about cooperation in transport, engineering and tourism.
The Prime Minister met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent also holding talks with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov. The main topic of the talks was the promotion of trade and investment and the further development of mutual cooperation. “We have opened doors here for our companies and our business; in every country we have forged personal relationships with the presidents, and I am very pleased.” We received a book from the President, which provides a comprehensive overview of cooperation opportunities. These countries are fantastic; we have seen that for ourselves during every single visit on this trip," said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
Uzbekistan is an important partner for the Czech Republic in the region, offering considerable potential for Czech exporters and investors across a wide range of sectors—from energy and mining to modern industry and other promising fields.
A concrete result of the talks in the transport sector is a significant step forward in implementing the strategic contract for the supply of electric train units by Škoda Transportation for Uzbekistan Railways. During the visit, a framework agreement was signed on cooperation and the supply of ten trains worth over three billion crowns. The project will also include the subsequent servicing of the rolling stock, which opens up opportunities for further development of the railway industry between the two countries, including in the context of the Global Gateway initiative.
“Competition from Asia is incredibly fierce; China is everywhere, investing billions of dollars here and, naturally, seeking to exert a huge influence, which is why it is such a great achievement that we have managed to land these contracts. We came here because we wanted to build personal relationships, and I think we’ve succeeded. Incredible export opportunities are opening up for our companies,” added the Prime Minister.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has been strengthening its position as one of the key players in Central Asia. The country’s dynamic economic growth presents a major opportunity for Czech companies, not only in traditional sectors but particularly in the supply of technologically advanced solutions with high added value.
A key outcome of the visit is the signing of a Joint Statement by the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and the President of Uzbekistan on the development of enhanced cooperation, which is intended to pave the way for upgrading bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The document covers a wide range of areas, from political dialogue and institutional cooperation through to trade, investment and other sectors.
The programme also included a visit to an international educational institution specialising in preparing students for careers abroad. The Prime Minister praised the high standard of language and professional training and highlighted the potential for cooperation in the fields of education and healthcare. “It is clear that there has long been a high demand for qualified healthcare staff in Europe. We do not have enough nurses in the Czech Republic either, which is why we want to focus on how we can tap into this potential in the future. I will discuss this with Minister Vojtěch when I return; we need to clarify how many nurses we will need from abroad, because that is actually how the whole of Europe operates,” said the Prime Minister.
The visit to Uzbekistan marked the conclusion of the Prime Minister’s working trip to the Caucasus and Central Asia, which was accompanied by a large-scale business mission aimed primarily at strengthening economic diplomacy and supporting Czech exporters in promising markets outside the European Union.
Furthermore, the trip took place at a time of increased attention paid to issues of energy security, diversification of sources, and the stability of supply chains in connection with current developments in the Middle East. The talks in the region thus helped to identify new opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, including the securing of stable, long-term supplies of strategic raw materials.
