Uzbek products could be competitors for Turkey and Iran, says Davron Vahobov

From February 1 to 7, the traditional “Baghdad International Fair” is taking place in Baghdad, Iraq. For the first time, products labeled “Made in Uzbekistan” are participating. QALAMPIR.UZ provided live coverage of the event.

According to Davron Vahobov, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 200 entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan are attending. Informal meetings are held each evening by sector. Around 50–60 percent of Uzbek entrepreneurs are independently finding partners through experience, language skills, and marketing knowledge.

“In Iraq, about 1.25 million people are born every year, and the population has significant purchasing power, including for food and housing. The country is recovering,” he said.

Iraq’s gross domestic product exceeds $250 billion, with imports totaling more than $90 billion. The country’s import potential is higher than that of its neighboring states.

“Iraqi entrepreneurs say they are mainly reliant on two countries. They need partners who can provide alternative products, and in this regard, Uzbekistan fits well. Currently, Iraq’s main partners are Turkey, China, and Iran, but distance is a factor. Turkey’s products are about 30 percent more expensive than ours, and there are financial sanctions on Iran,” Vahobov noted.

He added that the fastest delivery to Iraq takes 12 days. Shipping via the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Iraq route costs around $3,000–$4,000 per shipment.

The full report can be viewed on the video player above or on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube channel.