ECA to Strengthen Support for Joint Manufacturing Projects with Uzbekistan
Madina Yerzhanova, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of KazakhExport (Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan / ECA), attended the 1st Council Meeting of the Heads of Regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The event took place in Aktau within the framework of the 23rd session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.
Speaking at the panel session titled "New Opportunities for Trade and Export Cooperation," the speaker highlighted the role of financial and insurance mechanisms in strengthening trade and economic interaction between the two states.
Strategic Vector of Cooperation
In 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached $4.8 billion. Kazakhstani exports exceeded $3.5 billion, with non-resource goods accounting for 68%—namely food products, metallurgy, and construction materials. This confirms a shift in bilateral cooperation from a raw-material model to the creation of high-value-added chains.
Madina Yerzhanova noted that at the current stage, trade growth depends not only on the competitiveness of goods, but also on the efficiency of the financial infrastructure:
"In today's realities, key factors include access to financing, effective management of commercial and political risks, deferred payment capabilities, and reliable execution of contractual obligations. These are the exact tasks ECA addresses by building a sustainable financial ecosystem that allows businesses to safely expand into new markets and scale up supply volumes."
Scale of ECA's Support
Today, the Agency's insurance capacity stands at 941 billion tenge, with plans to grow it to 1.2 trillion tenge by the end of 2026. Over the past five years, ECA has supported more than 300 exporters, yielding a cumulative economic effect of over 7 trillion tenge.
The Agency offers 25 insurance, guarantee, and financial support instruments that align with advanced international standards. ECA provides end-to-end project support at all stages: from production setup to final settlements under export contracts.
As part of international cooperation, ECA systematically collaborates with leading global reinsurance companies, foreign ECAs, and partner banks. Notably, trade finance credit limits have been established and are being utilized across five banks in Uzbekistan.
Potential of the Uzbek Market
Uzbekistan serves as a key export market for ECA-supported projects. In the first half of 2026, the volume of support for export projects targeting Uzbekistan reached approximately 135 billion tenge. The main share went toward export transaction insurance, as well as pre-export and trade financing instruments.
According to expert estimates, the highest potential for further trade growth and joint investment projects lies in the chemical industry, metallurgy, machine building, and the food sector.
To enhance convenience for entrepreneurs, the Agency is actively developing its digital ecosystem. Today, manufacturers can submit support applications remotely via the "Exporter's Personal Account," while foreign buyers can locate Kazakhstani enterprises through the "Exporter Showcase" service.
In conclusion, the Deputy Head of ECA expressed confidence in the strong prospects for further cooperation:
"Our countries share a solid foundation for deepening trade and economic ties. Events of this format provide a powerful impetus to industrial cooperation. We are ready to act as a reliable development institution and remain open to active collaboration with government authorities, financial institutions, and the business community to implement joint strategic projects."
