Uzbekistan and Belarus to increase mutual trade to $2 billion

Today, July 9, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held talks in a narrow format and with the participation of members of the official delegations. The press service of the Uzbek leader reported this.

At the beginning of the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that in recent years, multifaceted relations between Uzbekistan and Belarus have risen to a qualitatively new level.

As part of preparations for this visit, meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Council, political consultations, meetings of analytical circles, Days of Uzbek Culture and other events were successfully held.

It was noted with satisfaction that mutual trade continues to grow steadily. Over the past five years, this figure has increased nearly threefold and reached almost $1 billion by the end of last year. In the past period of this year, its volume has grown by another 30%. A total of 360 joint ventures are operating successfully.

The leaders welcomed the fact that concrete steps had been agreed the day before to increase mutual trade to $2 billion, and that an action plan had been adopted consisting of new cooperation projects in agriculture, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, light industry, furniture production and other industrial sectors.

Uzbekistan expressed interest in exchanging experience in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the creation of infrastructure in this area.

The effective results of the third Uzbekistan-Belarus Interregional Forum, held yesterday in Minsk, were particularly noted. Following the forum, a substantial package of trade contracts and investment agreements was signed.

The parties confirmed their firm commitment to continuing mutual support within international organizations, including the United Nations, the CIS, the SCO and the Non-Aligned Movement.

The importance of consistently continuing active cultural and humanitarian exchanges was emphasized.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to Alexander Lukashenko for the initiative to create an Uzbekistan-Belarus Friendship Alley in Minsk.

An agreement was reached to organize joint tourism, medical and education forums by the end of this year.

During the meeting, reports by the co-chairs of the joint Intergovernmental Commission, as well as specific proposals on the agenda of the talks, were also heard.

At the end, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited his counterpart Alexander Lukashenko to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.

Earlier, it was reported that an official welcoming ceremony had been held at the Palace of Independence in Minsk for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is on an official visit to the Republic of Belarus.