Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 16 October 2024, at the Central Asia Retail Week 2024 international forum in Tashkent, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the marketplace Ozon and the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade (MIIT) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The agreement was concluded in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

The main goal of the agreement is to promote the sustainable development of e-commerce in Uzbekistan and support small and medium-sized businesses in the country. A key aspect of the partnership is boosting trade between Russia and Uzbekistan, while also promoting local products to Ozon’s audience of 51 million customers in Russia and other countries.

“In recent years, the quality and competitiveness of products in Uzbekistan have improved significantly, markets have expanded, and the transportation and logistics infrastructure has been modernized. Digitalization of trade and the development of e-commerce globally are playing an increasingly important role. The memorandum signed with Ozon is an important step in this direction,” noted Inomjon Abdurakhmonov, head of the Department of Foreign Trade at MIIT Uzbekistan.

Vladimir Goncharevich, Deputy Managing Director of Ozon, emphasized that Uzbekistan’s e-commerce market is growing rapidly and holds tremendous potential. “Uzbek products are in demand both domestically and abroad, indicating high quality and competitiveness. This opens up new opportunities for export and strengthens Uzbekistan’s position in international markets. Together with the Ministry, we plan to help local entrepreneurs enter new markets and increase sales through Ozon,” he said.

Nikita Kuznetsov, Director of the Department of Domestic Trade at Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, expressed confidence that the signed memorandum would mark the beginning of long-term cooperation in e-commerce between Russia and Uzbekistan. He noted that Russian companies can offer advanced digital solutions for trade, including storage and delivery processes, and looked forward to continued collaboration with Uzbek partners.

The partnership also includes educational programs aimed at developing e-commerce in Uzbekistan, joint consultations, informational and promotional campaigns, as well as experience sharing between the two parties.

Ozon has been actively expanding its presence in Uzbekistan since 2023, with a focus on developing logistics infrastructure, including warehouse complexes and courier services, to minimize delivery times for Uzbek customers. The company also plans to expand its network of franchise pickup and delivery points.

Ozon is a multi-category marketplace with an extensive logistics network, conducting business in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, as well as in China and Turkey. The platform offers over 370 million products across more than 20 categories, enabling 550,000 entrepreneurs to sell their goods in Russia and CIS markets.