Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Feb. 12 / Trend, D. Azizov /
Uzbek Foreign Minister and Italian Ambassador Riccardo Manara have today discussed the schedule of contacts at various levels scheduled for 2013, including the date of the next meetings of the joint institutions of interaction, as well as expansion of the bilateral legal framework, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said today.
The parties have also discussed important aspects of the Uzbek-Italian relations in view of promising areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in the politics, trade, economics, and in cultural and humanitarian spheres. They have exchanged views on international and regional issues.
It was reported that Italian entrepreneurs have expressed interest in cooperation in the Uzbek energy sector, as well as in the steel industry, the textile industry and tourism during the business forum of Uzbek and Italian business circles in Tashkent in June last year.
At present, a bilateral contractual basis in the economy includes an agreement "Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments," convention on "Avoidance of double taxation and prevention of evasion of taxes on income and on capital", an agreement on international transportation and mutual customs assistance and other documents.
Around 32 companies with Italian capital, including 28 joint ventures and four companies with full Italian capital operate in Uzbekistan. Four representative offices of Italian firms and companies have been accredited at the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade.