Uzbekistan would benefit from joining the EAEU, this issue is being actively discussed, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Ilhom Nematov.

“Now this issue is being studied quite thoroughly. The results of our research will then be weighed, based on them, we will make a decision,” he said.

According to the Deputy FM of Uzbekistan, he personally advocates joining the EAEU.

“The economy, industry, agriculture of Uzbekistan is growing. Export is increasing. We need a market, we need a space. And where shall this space be found? In Kazakhstan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan, which are members of the EAEU. Therefore, I support Uzbekistan’s joining the organization, exclusively on the basis of the country’s economic interests. Another important factor is demography. The population is growing, another 700,000 are added each year. Naturally, we cannot provide 700,000 people with work. And what does this lead to? Migration. Where do our people migrate? To Russia, to Kazakhstan. This factor also determines the maintenance of close ties between Uzbekistan and the EAEU. There are several privileges for migrants of member countries. Therefore, I believe, based on these conditions, we must make a decision,” he said.

According to him, negotiations on this may be completed in the near future.

“Now we are considering this issue. At the beginning of December, a Russian delegation led by Finance Minister Anton Siluanov visited Samarkand. This means that negotiations are ongoing. I believe they will be completed soon, in the very near future,” Nematov concluded.

It should be recalled that in early October, the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, during her visit to Uzbekistan, said that the president of the republic Shavkat Mirziyoyev is working on the issue of the country’s accession to the EAEU. According to her, the analysis of the benefits and possible risks for Tashkent may be completed by the end of the year.