KUALA LUMPUR: Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have formalized a new intergovernmental agreement on air communication as part of the ICAO ICAN-2024 event in Kuala Lumpur. This development marks a significant step in bilateral relations, enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

According to Trend News Agency, the agreement was signed during the ICAO ICAN-2024, an international event dedicated to air communication negotiations. The delegation from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, led by Uzaviation Agency Director Tokhir Nazarov, participated in the event. This agreement is expected to bolster connectivity and facilitate travel and trade between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia.

The economic ties between the two countries are underscored by Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment portfolio in Uzbekistan, which has reached $24.1 billion. The investment includes 34 projects across various sectors. In 2023 alone, the two nations signed agreements worth $23 billion. This year, an additional $1.5 billion is set to be
invested in thirteen projects, focusing on transportation, digitization, infrastructure, healthcare, and energy, bringing the total to $2.5 billion.

The ICAO ICAN-2024 event, hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport, runs from October 21 to 25, 2024, and serves as a key platform for air services negotiations. The hybrid event facilitates bilateral, regional, and plurilateral discussions and provides networking opportunities for stakeholders in the aviation sector.