Sun Sep 15 16:59:47 UTC 2024: ## Germany and Uzbekistan Strengthen Ties with Migration, Labor, and Raw Materials Deals
**Samarkand, Uzbekistan** – Germany and Uzbekistan have signed a series of agreements aimed at deepening cooperation in key areas, including migration, labor mobility, and critical raw materials. The deals were signed Sunday in Samarkand in the presence of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on his first trip to Central Asia.
The migration and labor mobility agreement is designed to facilitate the flow of skilled workers from Uzbekistan to Germany. This is expected to help Germany address its ongoing labor shortage, particularly in key industries. The agreement also includes a mechanism for the return of migrants who do not have the right to stay in either country.
The two countries also agreed to collaborate on securing critical raw materials, particularly copper. Germany is looking to diversify its supply chains away from Russia and China, and Uzbekistan is rich in copper deposits. Chancellor Scholz highlighted the progress made on a project involving German copper producer Aurubis AG, though further details were not disclosed.
Scholz’s trip is part of a broader push to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations in areas such as industry, energy, the environment, security, and defense. This comes as Germany seeks to diversify its energy and raw material sources beyond Russia and China.
Beyond Uzbekistan, Germany is also looking to enhance its relationships with other Central Asian countries. Scholz is scheduled to meet with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana on Monday, where the two countries will sign agreements on cooperation between their central banks, establishment of a joint science and technology institute, and a German school in Astana. Germany also hopes to encourage Kazakhstan to increase its crude oil deliveries to a key refinery in eastern Germany.
These agreements reflect Germany’s growing interest in Central Asia and its strategic significance in the global geopolitical landscape. By strengthening ties with these nations, Germany hopes to secure access to vital resources, expand its economic and political influence, and address its pressing labor shortage.
First Piper 