Thanks to a bold advocacy effort from the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA), another step was made in the right direction toward a budding trade relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan. 

In November 2024, MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek returned to Washington, D.C., to continue the conversation with the American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) during a Strategic Partnership Dialogue with Uzbek delegation and chamber members. Included in the delegation was Uzbek Ambassador Furkat Sidikov and Muzaffar Madrakhimov, Uzbekistan’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, among several other Uzbek leaders. The high-level discussion provided an opportunity for private companies to be briefed on the ongoing negotiations between the two governments and share their own insights and expertise.  

“It was very productive,” Smentek said. “The U.S. and Uzbekistan have had very successful meetings and they’re now going to move to having Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue, which just means things are getting a little more serious.” 

The AUCC is similar to other chamber of commerce groups in that they promote trade, commerce and cultural understanding between the US and Uzbekistan. Along with interest from MSGA and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, other major companies such as John Deere, Case New Holland, Coca-Cola and Boeing were also involved in the meeting as they look to expand their business with the Central Asian country. 

“There are a lot of large companies who recognize the potential for development in Uzbekistan, which is a really fast-growing part of the world,” Smentek said. “Minnesota Soybean is not alone in looking to them as a way to increase demand for our products.” 

Shared interests 

Trade is forecasted between the countries to increase to up to $1 billion in the next year, which is not much of a surprise given the rapid growth of Uzbekistan. Their population growth rate is at 2% and a record 10 million visitors are expected in 2025. From a soybean perspective, the country has the potential demand to import upwards of 1.2 million metric tons of soybeans, four times what it currently imports.  

“We’re having really good dialogues with companies looking to build a soy crushing facility in Uzbekistan, and on a similar note we’re helping to fund some programs that will modernize their dairy and poultry operations,” Smentek said. “If those get bigger they’re going to need more soybeans, which increases the need for a crush plant.”  

MSGA plans to continue their engagement with Uzbekistan; another potential trade mission is in the works for spring of 2025, roughly a year after four MSR&PC farmer leaders last visited the country, which helped spur the second shipment of U.S. soymeal into the country a few months later.  

“It’s amazing the response we are getting from Uzbekistan,” Smentek said, “but then again our countries share a lot of strategic interests and could become great allies.”