BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 14
By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:
The 16th meeting of Uzbek-German intergovernmental working group on trade and investment was held in Berlin, Trend reports citing the press service of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.
During negotiations and bilateral meetings, leadership of Eastern European Association of German Business (OAOEV), the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) and a number of German companies reviewed the implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level, and agreed upon joint steps aimed at strengthening trade and economic relations.
In particular, a number of new investment projects with the participation of German small and medium-sized businesses were worked out.
Along with this, with the support of the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK), OAOEV and the German-Uzbek Business Council, a Center for German Business will be established in Tashkent in order to support companies in Germany that are planning to enter the Uzbek market or are already operating in the country.
Cooperation in the field of innovation and infrastructure development is intensifying: the German Energy Agency (DENA) will launch a pilot project to improve the energy efficiency of apartment buildings in the city of Nukus. After its successful implementation, the program for the introduction of German energy efficiency technologies will cover other Uzbekistan’s regions.
The development of trade relations has a particular priority. Together with OAOEV, a program will be developed to promote Uzbek industrial products on the German market, including the introduction of German quality standards at the relevant enterprises of Uzbekistan and certification of manufactured industrial goods in Germany.
In this context, in close cooperation with the German National Metrology Institute, a program will be implemented over three years to develop a quality infrastructure aimed at reforming the areas of standardization, certification, metrology and accreditation in Uzbekistan. The prospects for opening AHK representative offices in Tashkent in 2020 to systematically support the sustainable development of mutual trade and further increase trade were also discussed.
Furthermore, during the meeting of the working group, agreements were reached on expanding the activities of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), a leading consulting company on economic development, in Uzbekistan through the implementation of new technical and advisory assistance programs to improve the business environment and increase the investment attractiveness of Uzbekistan.
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