Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to Visit Uzbekistan for Talks and Business Forum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is scheduled to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan on April 29–30, accompanied by a large business delegation. According to the Czech government, the visit is aimed at expanding economic relations and strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries.

The delegation will include First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, as well as representatives of around 50 Czech companies. These firms operate in key sectors such as energy, transport, mechanical engineering, and defense industry. The regional tour also includes Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with Uzbekistan as the final destination.

The main goal of the mission is to promote Czech exports and expand bilateral trade. In Tashkent, Andrej Babiš is expected to hold talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participate in the “Czech Republic–Uzbekistan” business forum, which will serve as a platform for direct engagement between entrepreneurs from both countries.

The Czech side describes the visit as part of its economic diplomacy strategy focused on strengthening ties beyond the European Union. According to Babiš, markets such as Uzbekistan are becoming increasingly important for Czech companies seeking new export opportunities and trade growth.

One of the key practical outcomes expected from the visit is the launch of a project involving the Czech company Škoda in the railway transport sector. According to the Czech ambassador to Uzbekistan, Lubomír Frebort, the initiative includes the supply and assembly of Škoda electric trains in Uzbekistan with gradual localization of production components.

The project also foresees the establishment of a Škoda academy at the Tashkent State Transport University to train specialists in the sector.

Diplomats note that the Uzbekistan leg of the tour is considered the most promising in terms of investment potential and may significantly boost industrial cooperation, trade, and technological exchange between the two countries.