Uzbekistan and India Discuss New Investment Projects at Business Forum

Alisher Shaykhov, Advisor to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, met with the new Ambassador of Argentina to Uzbekistan, Enrique Ignacio Ferrer Vieira.

Discussion of Economic Cooperation

The parties discussed areas for developing trade and economic relations, as well as deepening investment interaction and expanding contacts between the business communities of both countries.

Prospects for Partnership

At the beginning of the meeting, Shaykhov congratulated the diplomat on his appointment and wished him success in efforts to strengthen ties between Uzbekistan and Argentina. The participants identified promising areas for joint work, including agriculture, food and textile industries, footwear production, pharmaceuticals, as well as electrical engineering and chemical industry.

Additional Areas of Interaction

Potential areas of cooperation also covered the jewelry industry, tourism, medicine, and education. Both sides stated their readiness to continue practical interaction in the specified sectors, activate business contacts, and facilitate the implementation of joint projects.

A meeting took place in Kabul between the Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, who headed the Uzbek delegation. The governor of the Fergana region, Khayrullo Bozorov, also participated in the negotiations.

Goals of the Visit and Cooperation

The parties discussed the further development of trade and economic interaction, as well as the implementation of previously reached agreements in the field of trade and investment. Jamshid Khodjayev emphasized that the goal of the large Uzbek delegation, which included representatives of state bodies, legislators, entrepreneurs, and investors, is to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries.

According to him, Afghanistan holds a significant place in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The delegation's visit was organized at the instruction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the aim of beginning the practical implementation of agreements in the sectors of trade and investment and assessing the results of their execution.

Trade Turnover and Visa Regime

Khodjayev reported that last year the volume of Afghanistan's exports to Uzbekistan reached 150 million US dollars. Since the beginning of the current year, this amount has been 111 million US dollars, and further growth is expected by the end of the year. Furthermore, the deputy prime minister noted that Uzbekistan issued 5000 visas to Afghan citizens, which he links to the development of friendly and economic relations.

Position of the Afghan Side

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund welcomed the Uzbek delegation, calling its visit an important step for further strengthening bilateral relations. He stated that the arrival of such a representative delegation and the development of economic cooperation demonstrate Uzbekistan's confidence in Afghanistan's future. The Prime Minister of Afghanistan also expressed interest in deepening ties with Uzbekistan and confirmed his readiness to fulfill the reached agreements.

A Uzbek-Chinese business forum was held in Tashkent, attended by the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan and a delegation from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.

Discussion of Cooperation

During the event, the parties discussed prospects for expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation, as well as opportunities for implementing new joint projects. The forum gathered representatives of state and industry structures, as well as 22 Chinese companies operating in fields such as metallurgy, energy, logistics, biotechnology, automotive manufacturing, food industry, and others.

Dynamics of Bilateral Trade

Participants noted a significant growth in trade turnover between Uzbekistan and China, which has tripled over the past five years and is expected to approach $18 billion USD by the end of 2025. Over the same period, the volume of direct Chinese investment increased fivefold, reaching $17 billion USD. Currently, more than 6,000 enterprises with Chinese capital operate in Uzbekistan.

Prospects for Joint Projects

Forum participants examined potential areas for joint initiatives, including mining, green energy, agriculture, healthcare, high technology, industrial cooperation, and the production of export-oriented goods. The forum concluded with the creation of a platform for establishing new business contacts, developing investment plans, and promoting joint projects between companies from both countries.