Germany is one of the key, time-tested, reliable partners of Uzbekistan. In recent years, cooperation between our countries has been developing remarkably rapidly.

In particular, the first official visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Germany, which took place on January 20-22, 2019, as well as the return visit of the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Uzbekistan on May 27-29 of the same year, gave a powerful impetus to develop the bilateral partnership further.

To date, multifaceted cooperation has been established between the two countries, which covers the trade, economic, investment, and technological spheres. There are 219 enterprises in Uzbekistan with the participation of German capital, specializing in agriculture, mining, metallurgy, energy, engineering, and the chemical industry.

Constructive cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany on issues of the global and regional agenda is also carried out in multilateral formats – within the framework of the UN, OSCE, and other structures.

The visit of the Head of our state to the Federal Republic of Germany on May 2-3 this year will undoubtedly serve to enhance cooperation between the two countries further, based on mutual respect and friendship.

In particular, during the dialogue between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the Federal Chancellor of this country, Olaf Scholz, it was noted with satisfaction that in recent years bilateral relations have been developing dynamically in all areas, the trade turnover and the number of joint projects has doubled. The volume of investments from Germany to Uzbekistan reached $5.5 billion, of which $4 billion were attracted over the past six years.

As part of a two-day visit, the Head of our state met with the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and heads of this country’s leading companies and financial institutions. The leaders of the two states opened a unique exhibition “Archaeological Treasures of Uzbekistan – from Alexander the Great to the Kushan Empire” hosted by the world-famous James Simon Gallery in Berlin. At the exhibition’s opening ceremony, the Head of our state noted with satisfaction the growing interest of the peoples of the two countries in the rich cultural heritage and modern achievements of each other.

During the communication with the leaders of the Eastern Committee of German Economy, the German-Uzbek Business Council, the German Energy Agency, the heads of about 30 most prominent companies and banks, such as CLAAS, Knauf, Siemens Energy, Lasselsberger, Aurubis, Linde Group, Gunter Papenburg, Falk-Porsche-Technik, Mangold Consulting, DB Engineering, Landesbank, Commerzbank, KfW Bank, Deutsche Bank, the Head of our state touched upon the possibilities of modernizing the sectors of the economy of Uzbekistan, launching high-tech projects, further developing trade, economic and investment partnerships. In particular, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the readiness of Uzbekistan to become an effective and reliable platform for German business in the new realities of large-scale and severe shocks in the global economy.

In particular, it was noted that the business community’s representatives play a vital role in implementing long-term plans and essential agreements reached during this visit to Germany. It should be noted here that, by the new Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, guarantees of the inviolability of private property have been strengthened. It is also clearly stated that the state creates conditions for fair competition and the independence of the judiciary. This, in turn, suggests that in our country, the rights of business representatives are guaranteed by the Constitution, which has the highest legal force.

As part of the Uzbekistan – Germany Business Forum, new trade, financial and investment agreements for 9 billion euros were signed to develop industrial cooperation and expand technology partnerships. Implementing these agreements in our country’s socio-economic life will undoubtedly intensify the entrepreneurs’ activities of the two countries and improve the well-being of their citizens.

Of course, the development of relations between the two countries’ parliaments is also essential in this process. We, members of parliament, must provide comprehensive support to the entrepreneurs of the two countries and help ensure the stability and continuity of their activities.

Makhfirat KHUSHVAKTOVA,

Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

UzA