Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A delegation led by Akmalhuja Mavlonov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan, is currently in the United States, holding meetings and negotiations aimed at deepening cooperation in customs affairs.

One of the key events of the visit was a bilateral meeting in Washington between Akmalhuja Mavlonov and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy Miller.

This marks the first official meeting at such a level between the customs services of Uzbekistan and the U.S. in the 32 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Until now, there has been no legal framework for bilateral customs cooperation.

Thanks to the visits of the President of Uzbekistan to the U.S. in 2018 and 2023, important agreements were reached, opening new opportunities for expanding cooperation in various fields.

In the past six years, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade with the U.S. has grown by 48%, and in the first eight months of this year, it increased by 64% compared to the same period last year. However, there remains significant potential for further growth.

To achieve this, closer interaction and information exchange between the customs services of the two countries are essential, representing a crucial step for further growth in foreign trade.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed customs risk management, digitalization of customs processes, and more efficient use of human resources.

A particularly significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of a key legal agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, which opens a new chapter in bilateral relations.

This agreement entails information sharing between Uzbekistan and the U.S. and strengthens joint efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, transnational crime, money laundering, and customs duty evasion.

Notably, the U.S. has signed similar agreements with only 17 countries worldwide, and Uzbekistan has become the 18th, highlighting the international recognition of the country’s success in reforming and digitalizing its customs system.

The discussions also touched on the possibility of attracting U.S. specialists to work in Uzbekistan and implementing training programs for Uzbek customs officers.

Akmalhuja Mavlonov extended an invitation to Troy Miller to visit Uzbekistan in a reciprocal visit.

The Uzbek delegation also plans to visit the National Targeting Center, the Canine Academy, San Antonio International Airport in Texas, the "World Trade Bridge" land customs post in Laredo, and the Texas-Mexico international rail border checkpoint.