Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Nov 17 /Trend D.Azizov/
Representatives of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in the format of Uzbekistan - the European Union, in the course of next round of ministerial political consultations held in Sofia on Friday.
The sides noted the mutual interest in intensifying relations at various levels, enhancing parliamentary exchanges, and deepening of partnerships between scientific and educational institutions of the two countries, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.
The sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues.
The parties also expressed their willingness to give diplomatic support to the outcome of the Third session of the Uzbek-Bulgarian intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific-technical cooperation held on November 15-16 in Sofia, which objectively considered promising areas of trade and economic and investment cooperation.
"The interest of the parties in the implementation of the existing potential for diversifying the range of products and services in mutual trade, exploring mutually beneficial projects in the free industrial economic zone Navoi and a special industrial zone Angren and in cooperation between representatives of government agencies and private businesses of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria was stressed during the business forum," the Foreign Ministry said.
The consultation was attended by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Bulgaria Ulfat Kadyrov.
The Bulgarian transport company Somat, which task is to transport non-military cargo for the needs of troops of International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan has been operating in Uzbekistan, the Bulgarian company Prista Oil created a company to produce synthetic motor oils based on Fergana refinery, two joint ventures for the collection and recycling of used industrial oils are created at a special industrial zone Angren in Tashkent region.
Bulgarian investment in these projects totaled $25 million and it is planned to invest as much again.
The first meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation between the two countries was held in Sofia in November 2003. The second meeting of the IGC was held in Tashkent in April 2007.