Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov met with the Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, Charlotte Adriaen.

According to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, the parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation and a schedule of events for 2024.

The positive dynamics of the economic partnership between Uzbekistan and the EU were noted. Thus, there has been an increase in the volume of mutual trade and the number of joint ventures in recent years. Mutual readiness was expressed to stimulate the expansion of investment partnerships, industrial cooperation, and transport and logistics cooperation.

An agreement was reached to continue active interaction on the effective use by domestic exporters of the status of a GSP+ beneficiary country and promote the accelerated accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed a firm commitment to further deepening and enhancing cooperation in all discussed areas of bilateral interaction.

According to the MIIT, for 10 months of 2023, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EU amounted to $4.8 billion (+36%). Thanks to receiving GSP+ beneficiary status, Uzbekistan’s exports to the European Union have increased 1.5 times since 2021, and Uzbek exporters saved 28 million euros on import duties.

UzA