A meeting of the Uzbek-Japanese working group on cooperation in agriculture took place at the International Business Center in Tashkent on 15 March.

A meeting of the Uzbek-Japanese working group on cooperation in agriculture took place at the International Business Center in Tashkent on 15 March.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan, was attended by managers and specialists of companies of the two countries, engaged in the field of agriculture and water resources.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan B.Sulaymonov, Ambassador of Japan in our country F.Kato and others highlighted the consistent development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in all areas, an important legal basis of which are the agreements reached during meetings of heads of two states. In particular, the official visit of President Islam Karimov to Japan in February 2011, the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in October 2015 to our country gave new impetus to mutual cooperation.

Japan is one of the strategic partners of Uzbekistan. Relations between our countries have been developing on the basis of the joint statement on Friendship, Strategic Partnership and Cooperation, the joint statement on deepening and expanding strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan.

Agriculture and water resources management is one of the most important areas of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan. Since 1995 the Government of Japan has been implementing a grant aid program for small-scale projects in our country, which has involved agricultural projects along with other areas. During this period, the program implemented 352 projects worth 23.38 million dollars.

Implemented with the financial assistance of the Japanese Government, the projects in water management, improvement of irrigation systems, land reclamation and other spheres are yielding results. Now, we are cooperating in the development of horticulture, modernization of water facilities, training of specialists.

The forum highly appreciated the reforms and achieved results in the development of the sphere of agriculture and water resources management in Uzbekistan. Guests were informed of ongoing work on modernization, technical and technological renewal of existing agricultural enterprises, improving production efficiency and export capacity.

Development of agriculture and food industry is one of the priorities in Uzbekistan's economic development policy. Last year the volume of production of agricultural goods grew by almost 7 percent. 230 enterprises in industrial processing of agricultural products, 114 new refrigerating storages with a capacity of 77 800 tons have been established and upgraded. As a result, the total capacity of storage of fruits and vegetables increased to 832 thousand tons. This serves to ensure the supply to the population of the main types of agricultural products, expansion of exports of goods, maintaining price stability in the markets throughout the year.

The parties discussed the works, carried out in Uzbekistan, to attract foreign investment in agriculture, on favorable conditions, created for foreign investors, at the event. Due to the attraction of investments, the industry has consistently expanded harvesting of agricultural products. The representatives of the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan share experience with major manufacturers in Japan, the US, South Korea, Switzerland, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Turkey and other countries and implement joint long-term projects.

- Our country pays special attention to cooperation with Uzbekistan, - said Deputy Director General of Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan Tatsuya Kajishima. - Japanese business circles are showing great interest in further development of partnership with the businessmen of Uzbekistan. Our delegation includes representatives of agricultural machinery manufacturing companies, construction and information technologies. The favorable investment climate and high economic opportunities in Uzbekistan are an important factor in the development of trade and economic cooperation. We intend to get acquainted with the activities of educational facilities in the sphere, companies and enterprises of Uzbekistan.

An analysis of the current state of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in the agricultural sphere have been carried out at the meeting, the sides exchanged views on its further development. An agreement was reached on strengthening mutual relations in the field of selection of agricultural crops, land reclamation, implementation of resource-saving technologies, modern equipment for processing and storage of fruits and vegetables, animal products, new projects in the industry, intensifying mutual exchange of experience and establishment of direct contacts between the business circles through opening new joint ventures.

A cooperation exchange with the participation of representatives of specialized companies and enterprises of Uzbekistan and Japan took place n the same day.