IICA hosted a meeting with the Founder and CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation Esfandyar Batmanghelidj.

At the meeting, IICA Director Javlon Vakhabov and Mr. Batmanghelidj discussed prospects for expanding comprehensive partnership between the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC) and the Central Asian region.

The results of the First Summit of the GCC and Central Asia, held on July 19, 2023, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were particularly noted. Views were exchanged on the promotion of the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward within the framework of the forum, including the development of a Multilateral Agreement on Friendship, Regional Connectivity, and Cooperation, the signing of a Multilateral Trade Agreement, the formation of a joint Investors Council with the participation of business representatives from both regions, the application of favorable tariffs when using the Middle Trade and Transport Corridor, the creation of a single visa-free tourist space “Gulf – Central Asia” and others.

The parties agreed to start an expert dialogue with representatives of Gulf and Central Asian countries, to develop proposals for the agenda of the second summit, to be held in Samarkand in 2025.

The heads of think tanks also discussed the main areas of scientific research and considered areas of potential interaction between IICA and the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation.

G.Khonnazarov, UzA