Uzbekistan and Iraq established diplomatic relations in 1993. Over the past three decades, relations between the two countries remained limited. However, in 2025, the President of Uzbekistan ordered the dispatch of a trade envoy to Iraq, and the first Uzbekistan–Iraq Investment and Business Forum was held on December 23, 2025, in Baghdad. Furthermore, between January 12 and 16, a large Iraqi business delegation, led by the Iraqi Minister of Trade, visited Uzbekistan to participate in the forum, laying the foundation for sustained trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Iraq and Uzbekistan share deep historical and civilizational ties. Both countries were connected through the Silk Road, and trade between their peoples dates back many centuries. Moreover, during the Abbasid Caliphate, several influential historical figures, including Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani, and Imam al-Bukhari, traveled to Iraq to study and contribute to its intellectual life.

Despite this shared history and similarities in cultural norms, awareness of untapped economic opportunities between the two countries has remained limited. As Iraq overcomes years of instability and moves toward rebuilding its infrastructure, the demand for reliable foreign trade partners is increasing. Moreover, the country has a large consumer market of over 40 million people and imports most food and other essential goods from abroad. Uzbekistan, with one of the fastest-growing economies and an emerging manufacturing base in Central Asia, offers affordable, high-quality goods capable of meeting Iraqi market demands. This convergence creates significant potential to expand trade and economic exchange between the two countries.

After President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the dispatch of a trade envoy to Iraq on November 25, 2025, potential trade cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iraq dominated the headlines. On December 23, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kuwait, in cooperation with the Iraqi Economic Council, organized the first Uzbek-Iraqi Business Forum in Baghdad. The Uzbek delegation was led by Shokhrukh Gulamov, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade. The Uzbek business delegation comprised representatives of 25 major companies and entrepreneurs operating in sectors with high export potential, including food processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, furniture manufacturing, and construction materials. On the Iraqi side, more than 200 investors, importers, and business representatives attended the event. The forum provided an effective platform for politicians and entrepreneurs to discuss business and investment topics and gain a better understanding of unexplored opportunities. Moreover, B2B meetings, along with exhibitions of Uzbek-made products, were organized to explore prospective areas of bilateral economic cooperation.

At the invitation of the Uzbek side, from January 12 to 16 of this year, an Iraqi business delegation led by Iraq’s Minister of Trade, Atheer Dawood Salman Al-Ghurairy, paid a working visit to Uzbekistan to explore trade, industrial, and investment cooperation. The delegation included around 150 representatives of major Iraqi businesses and senior officials from Iraq’s economic institutions. During the visit, the Iraqi delegation had the opportunity to visit factories in Uzbekistan and became acquainted with production processes. On January 14, Tashkent hosted the Uzbekistan–Iraq Business Forum. The forum was attended by the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and leading entrepreneurs from both countries. During the forum, the ministers discussed and set a goal of increasing annual trade turnover from 20 million USD to 1 billion USD.

During the forum, Davron Vakhabov, Chairman of the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced the goal of sending the first ten trucks carrying over 200 tons of Uzbek-made goods to Iraq. He emphasized that logistics pose no serious obstacle, as the Uzbek side has already developed plans and reached agreements regarding the delivery of goods from Uzbekistan to Iraq.

The two countries also discussed establishing joint business ventures and sharing expertise with each other. Trade cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iraq not only brings mutually beneficial economic results but also creates capacity for further diversification of bilateral ties.

Tourism, culture, and humanitarian areas also hold significant potential in Uzbekistan–Iraq relations. In recent years, Uzbekistan has emerged as a major travel destination, welcoming over ten million foreign visitors in 2025, while outbound tourism has also increased rapidly. With its rich historical heritage and unique culture, Iraq likewise has strong potential to become an attractive destination for travelers from Uzbekistan. Cooperation in tourism and other humanitarian areas fosters mutual understanding and cultural exchange, essential factors for sustainable and close relations between the two countries.

Overall, Uzbekistan and Iraq are entering a new stage of bilateral relations marked by expanding trade cooperation. As Iraq moves toward greater stability and development, and as Uzbekistan continues to build on its strong economic potential, this partnership reflects a convergence of complementary interests. Further reinforced by shared history and civilizational ties, the growing cooperation aims to deliver mutually beneficial economic outcomes while bringing the peoples of both countries closer together, contributing to broader regional stability and a more harmonious international environment.