During talks in Tashkent, the presidents of Uzbekistan and Albania – Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Bajram Begaj – discussed, alongside their respective official delegations, a proposal to potentially utilize the Albanian port of Durrës as a transit and distribution hub for Uzbek exports. According to the official stance, the project is currently in the preliminary study phase, with no confirmed launch dates, shipping volumes, investment parameters, or specific route structures established.
This initiative is part of a broader bilateral cooperation agenda that encompasses the development of trade and investment, as well as collaboration in the agro-industrial sector, green energy, geology, information technology, digitalization, and tourism. The parties also agreed to establish an intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, with its inaugural meeting scheduled to take place in Tashkent later this year.
It is also worth noting that Bajram Begaj’s visit marked the first official visit by an Albanian president to Uzbekistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. Furthermore, Uzbekistan is considering opening an embassy in Tirana, a move intended to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
