Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 26
By Ali Mustafayev – Trend:
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during his official visit to Ankara. A wide range of issues, including the improvement of cooperation in political, trade and economic, investment and transport spheres was discussed during the meeting.
The presidents agreed to increase the diversification of mutual trade, by supplying demanded products with high added value and developing long-term investment cooperation, the press service of Uzbek president said in a message.
In particular, Uzbekistan may export a wide range of industrial products, including electrical technologies, polymers, copper products, mineral fertilizers, yarn, fruits and vegetables.
The officials paid special attention to transport and logistics spheres, stressing that the expansion of transport corridors connecting the two countries will serve as an important factor in the development of trade and economic relations.
The countries decided to optimize transit tariffs and provide preferences in order to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of international transport corridors passing through Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Tourism was also noted as an important sphere for bilateral cooperation with a great potential for development.
The parties signed more than 20 documents in various spheres, as well as the package of documents on trade, industry, banking and financial, investment, tourism, freight, health and defense fields.
Mirziyoyev’s visit to Turkey visit is considered historical, since it is the first visit of an Uzbek president to Turkey in 20 years. Previously, the Presidents of the countries met in Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the 1st OIC Summit on Science and Technology, held on 9 September.
The relations between the two counties started to intensify in November 2016 after the President Erdogan’s visit to Uzbekistan, where a new wave of bilateral cooperation was discussed.
In May 2017 Uzbekistan and Turkey signed agreements worth $2 billion, envisaging the implementation of around 30 projects in pharmaceutics, textile industry, electro-technical, construction and banking sectors. The two countries also announced their intention to increase the level of trade turnover by 3 or 4 times (in 2016 the level trade turnover between the country amounted to $1.2 billion).
There are currently 700 companies in Uzbekistan with Turkish capital, 100 of which are representation offices. They carry out activities in the sectors of textile, commitment, food, hotel management, building materials, plastic, medication, and service.