Relations between the two fraternal Turkic states have been developing dynamically not only since their independence, but since Soviet times. Baku and Tashkent have always been friends, as the famous film says, “not only at home, but also with families.” The late leaders of the republic, Heydar Aliyev and Sharof Rashidov, were united by personal friendship. This sincerity in relations has been and is shared by the ties between the Azerbaijani and Uzbek peoples in our time.

In the newest era, the current heads of state of the two countries, Ilham  Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, also support this established time-tested consistency and the mood to strengthen and expand cooperation in Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations.

It is appropriate to recall the very successful and productive visit of I. Aliyev to Tashkent in June last, 2022. It was noted that in 2021 the volume of bilateral trade increased by 42% in 2021 and in 2022 by another 52%. The parties agreed to take measures to increase mutual supplies of products, conclude long-term trade contracts for the mutual supply of fruits and vegetables, food, textile, leather and footwear products to the trade networks of the two countries. Mutual interest was confirmed in accelerating the creation of the Azerbaijan-Uzbek Investment Fund, as well as working out the financial and technical aspects of 5 large projects worth over $ 700 million. During the visit, a bold package of documents worth more than $500 million was signed.

In August this year. President of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev visited Baku with reciprocal visit and it was a successful one. The head of Uzbekistan, accompanied by the head of Azerbaijan, opened a school for 940 students in the liberated city of Fuzuli .

This is the first such facility built in Karabakh by a foreign state as a gift to the fraternal Azerbaijani people!

However, the question arises: where does the “turbidity” of ” Akromal ” and how did it manage to “inherit” so negatively in the Azerbaijani-Uzbek trade and economic relations!?

This happened in 2020, “Akromal” signed a contract with the Uzbek state Foreign trade company “Uztrade” , under which it received textile products worth almost $1.3 million from a number of manufacturing factories in Uzbekistan. To this date, it had paid only a little over $900,000 for the supplied products. The outstanding debt is almost $ 400 thousands. By the way, “Uztrade”  is a 100% state-owned company and is part of the  Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan (the former Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations).

After repeated requests from the Uzbek company, “Akromal” confirmed its debt in writing in February 2022 and promised to pay off its debt by July 1, 2022. However, things are still there. Director Gasan Sharipov does not pick up the phone, he does not answer letters, he throws out appeals, including appeals from Azerbaijani state institutions, the mayor’s office of Baku and the executive administration of the Nasimi district, where the huge shopping center and warehouse terminals “Akromal” are located along Seid Jafar Pishevari street, House # 2A .

So, what is the problem, says Gasan Muallem! “I do not see any” and he keep laughing, with his mouth wide open. He does not care that Uzbek businessmen will judge the integrity of representatives of Azerbaijani business by his behavior. Gasan Muallem, apparently, is used to saying again and – ” Ty Kto Takoy, Davay Do Svidaniya or Who Are You, Come on Bye,” as our Talysh fellow countrymen sing in their famous song.

By the way, in the shopping center “Akromal” on Pishevari street there is also a trading floor – “Uzbek Bazaar”. This brand “Uzbek Bazaar” is opened by “Akromal” also in several other shopping centers in Baku. Apparently, his business with the Uzbeks is still going well. See photo:

As for the Uzbek partners represented by “Uztrade”, they were subjected to huge fines and fines by the financial and customs authorities of Uzbekistan, because of the receivables unpaid by the Azerbaijani company. In fact, at present the company is deprived of the opportunity to carry out mutual settlements and engage in foreign trade activities.

“Uztrade” company alone could have increased the mutual trade turnover by $50 million over the past couple of years! And how many businessmen from Uzbekistan, having heard about this problem, made decisions to keep wide distance  to do business with potential partners from the Republic of Azerbaijan!?

It probably makes sense to learn from Gasan Muallem (since his entourages  address him as “muallem” or a teacher in Azeri language), how to “swindle off in a major way” a trading partners. It does not matter that they are from a fraternal Turkic country, which has always helped and is helping now, after the Patriotic 2^nd  Karabakh War, in the restoration of the destroyed Azerbaijani regions. He has “his shirt closer to his body”, despite the fact that he is a multimillionaire and is a very rich Baku businessman. Or, can we already talk about him as a “muddy” businessman, poisoning Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations? And who would want to deal with him further if they knew about this case, and probably many other similar cases?

Especially, after the opening of a school in the city of Fizuli during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Baku in August 2023 and other memorable events in the relations between the two countries. The Uzbeks had built it at their own expense a school for Azerbaijani children on our liberated lands in Karabakh, first ever and only such gift to our nation from foreign state, as President Ilham Aliev underscored time and again. At the same time, our unfortunate “entrepreneur” is happy that he cheated the state company from Uzbekistan for almost $400 thousands and is so happy with his “success”.

He did not paid back his debt for more than 3 years, though he swore in writing that he will surely do. With this approach, trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will not only increase, but, on the contrary, will decrease. Who is guilty and whom to blame and why?

 1.     Because “Uztrade” must and obliged work in strict accordance to the laws of their country until the outstanding bills/accounts fully paid are closed.

 2.     The state foreign trade company “Uztrade” one of the main entities in the foreign trade area of Uzbekistan, which has been working with Azerbaijani companies for a long time.

Gasan “muallem” doesn’t give a damn about the interests of the people of Azerbaijan, the main thing is, as the famous saying goes, “your own fur is closer to your own body, than the state fur”, i.e. strategic interests of Azerbaijani state.            You should be ashamed, Gasan “muallem”! You and your company have become a major obstacle on the path of development of trade relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

When authorities in Baku will start reacting and addressing to this problem and its growing negative implications to the trade relations? Or the “murky businessman” Gasan is more precious for some one in the government, than whole weight of Uzbek-Azeri trade and economic relations?

So far, despite numerous attempts of “Uztrade” company to draw attention of Azerbaijani government ministers and Baku\s ambassador to Tashkent, Gasan “Muallem” gives damn sheet to anybody: He is “king of his own quarter” and nobody and no law is above of his personal greed.

Despite myself being Azerbaijani, my advice to  Uzbek businessmen: they ought to think not twice, but hundred times, before making any contact with slippery and murky business representatives of Azeri origin, such as Gasan Aqromal.

Namik Ahmedov, economic expert and publicist from Baku.