Baku, Azerbaijan, February 12
Trend:
Uzbek Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Badriddin Abidov met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili at the Uzbek Ministry, Trend reports with reference to press service of Uzbek Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.
The agenda also discussed the prospects for further development of cooperation in agriculture, tourism, hydropower, transport, light industry, and pharmaceuticals through attracting foreign direct investment. Therefore, it was proposed to organize a business forum with the participation of textile and garment-knitting enterprises Uzbekistan and Georgia, as well as to organize the participation of Uzbek representatives in the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum in October this year.
During the conversation, the parties noted that 2018 was not marked by an increase in commodity turnover between the countries as a decrease in exports is observed, in particular, due to a reduction in the supply of cotton fiber.
At the same time, a high exceptional potential for mutually beneficial cooperation, including the development of mediation trade with the participation of Georgia, and a number of developed countries in the free trade zone (China, Hong Kong, Turkey, CIS countries) was emphasized.
“Currently, Georgia is actively building and reconstructing the transport infrastructure: airports, roads. The project to build the first deep-water port will open the way for large ships, which stop today and do unloading in neighboring countries. At the same time, the hub port can open wide transit possibilities for cargo delivery to Europe and Asian countries,” said Alexander Khvtisiashvili.
The Georgian side stressed that they are observing with interest the large-scale socio-economic reforms carried out in Uzbekistan and is ready to share its experience on the implementation of economic reforms, including accession to the World Trade Organization.
In its turn, the Uzbek side informed about the transition to a cluster system of agricultural development and invited the Georgian side to actively participate in the implementation of new projects in this format in Uzbekistan in the fields of winemaking, cotton growing and gardening.