BENEFICIAL COOPERATION IN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND TURKEY

In recent years, youth entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan has increasingly begun to take a clearer shape as a distinct direction of international cooperation. In the context of global economic instability, the acceleration of technological changes, and intensified competition in the labor market, states have begun to view youth as entities capable of creating new economic value. In this regard, youth entrepreneurship can be evaluated as an important part of a long-term human capital strategy. The emergence of the entrepreneurship direction within the framework of cooperation in youth policy between Uzbekistan and Turkey is not an accidental process. Both countries have a high share of youth, and the issue of economic growth is directly linked to innovation, small business, and initiative. Therefore, youth entrepreneurship is forming as a separate, relatively independent direction in bilateral cooperation.

Cooperation on youth entrepreneurship between Uzbekistan and Turkey initially began to form through separate initiatives and dialogues. In this process, attention was focused on coordinating youth initiatives, exchanging experience, and understanding the business environment. In particular, establishing direct contacts between young entrepreneurs manifested as an important component of the cooperation.

The visit of the delegation of the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkey on March 31 – April 1, 2022, was significant. Within the framework of practical cooperation, the issue of strengthening institutional ties also came to the agenda. During meetings held in Istanbul with the head of the youth wing of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), issues of forming permanent dialogue platforms between young entrepreneurs of the two countries, organizing joint events, and developing mutual cooperation mechanisms were discussed. These meetings demonstrated the necessity of transforming youth entrepreneurship into a system of long-term relations, rather than limiting it to separate projects.

Cooperation on youth entrepreneurship between Uzbekistan and Turkey, after a certain stage, began to acquire concrete content through large-format events. In this process, the main focus was directed at expanding direct contacts between young entrepreneurs, exchanging experience, and bringing cooperation to the level of practical agreements. Unlike small meetings and dialogues, large formats allowed for the consolidation of youth entrepreneurship as a direction of systematic cooperation.

One of the most important events in this direction was the "Uzbekistan – Turkey Youth Business Forum" organized in Istanbul on December 12–17, 2022. More than 200 young entrepreneurs operating in various fields from both countries participated in the forum, 40 of whom were representatives of Uzbekistan. Within the event, issues of youth entrepreneurship were discussed through separate sessions, covering business development, market access, and cooperation mechanisms. The forum was held in harmony with "Turkey Innovation Week." This format allowed young entrepreneurs to get closely acquainted with advanced experiences formed in Turkey in the fields of innovation and exports. The participation of the heads of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Industry and Technology was a manifestation of the importance of supporting youth entrepreneurship at the state level.

An important aspect of this event is that it was not limited to dialogue alone. At the end of the forum, cooperation agreements amounting to 350,000 US dollars were signed between young entrepreneurs. This figure shows that cooperation within the framework of youth entrepreneurship is acquiring real economic content and leading to practical results. Such large-format events served to form youth entrepreneurship cooperation not as a one-time project, but as a continuous process. Through such initiatives, young entrepreneurs gain the opportunity to strengthen mutual trust, establish long-term connections, and exchange experience. As a result, youth entrepreneurship is forming as an independent and significant direction in the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey.

It should be mentioned here that multilateral platforms also played an important role in the formation of cooperation in the direction of youth entrepreneurship. Specifically, within the framework of the "Young Entrepreneurs Forum – IDEA" held in Tashkent on September 19–21, 2021, representatives of other Turkic states participated alongside young entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan and Turkey. The forum became one of the initial platforms for discussing youth entrepreneurship in the context of the OTS (Organization of Turkic States) and the regional economy, exchanging experience, and establishing practical ties.

In this process, initiatives aimed at bringing youth entrepreneurship to a wider regional arena are also being formed. Specifically, it is planned to hold the "Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum" in Khiva in 2026 with the participation of youth from Turkic states; it is expected that on this platform, the cooperation of young entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan and Turkey will be considered in the context of broader dialogue and will rise to another level.

Any cooperation becomes effective and long-term only when it reaches an institutional level. In this sense, cooperation on youth entrepreneurship between Uzbekistan and Turkey is also being strengthened with institutional foundations in the next stage. It is envisaged that the relations formed as a result of practical meetings and large-format events will now be developed through permanent mechanisms. In this process, the main attention is focused on creating sustainable dialogue platforms for young entrepreneurs, establishing continuous exchange of experience, and transitioning cooperation from individual initiatives to a systematic approach.

Supporting youth entrepreneurship at the institutional level also requires strengthening ties between structures coordinating the cooperation. Therefore, cooperation between organizations operating in the fields of youth policy, entrepreneurship, and innovation serves to form a favorable environment for young entrepreneurs. This approach is aimed at creating prospective opportunities rather than short-term incentives for youth entrepreneurship. Also, knowledge and experience exchange is strictly emphasized in cooperation on youth entrepreneurship. Mastering entrepreneurial culture, business management skills, and institutional experience certainly serves to increase the potential of young entrepreneurs to conduct independent activities. And this process itself allows for linking bilateral cooperation not only with economic interests but also with the development of human capital.

Overall, youth entrepreneurship cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey in today’s conditions manifests itself as a deeply thought-out, systematic direction aimed at practical results. This cooperation serves to support economic initiatives in youth issues and create a foundation for sustainable cooperation for future generations.