Uzbekistan and Finland plan to expand trade and investment cooperation

According to Dunyo news agency, the Embassy of Uzbekistan organized an Uzbek-Latvian business forum, which was attended by representatives of the business communities of both countries.

During the event, investment opportunities in Uzbekistan were presented to Latvian entrepreneurs, along with information about ongoing reforms aimed at improving the business environment, developing free economic zones, and creating favorable conditions for foreign investors and tourists.

Business negotiations focused on the potential for expanding trade, economic, and investment ties, as well as cooperation in the fields of transport, logistics, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

Participants discussed the need to increase the volume of bilateral trade and cargo transportation, more effective utilization of the transport and logistics capacities of the two states, and the implementation of new joint investment projects.

Representatives of more than ten major Latvian companies operating in the transport and logistics sector, including Riga Port Group, Baltijas Ekspresis, and Ventspils Commercial Port JSC, took part in the negotiations.

The parties studied opportunities to increase cargo flows between Uzbekistan and Latvia, develop transport routes, and utilize the port infrastructure of Riga and Ventspils to facilitate access of Uzbek goods to European markets. The expansion of warehousing and transit services was also discussed.

Following the meetings, an agreement was reached on a visit by a delegation of Latvian business representatives to Uzbekistan, scheduled for October 5 to 10 of this year. During this visit, the parties intend to continue discussions on cooperation in transport and logistics, energy, and pharmaceuticals, as well as consider possibilities for joint projects and determine steps for their implementation.

Uzbekistan and Armenia plan to deepen their interaction, aiming to develop new initiatives in the field of industrial partnership, increase trade and economic and investment ties, and strengthen transport connectivity between Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

Discussions on these areas took place on September 11 in the form of a telephone conversation between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. During the conversation, the sides detailedly reviewed the current aspects of the development of their bilateral relations.

Significant attention was paid to developing new joint production projects. Furthermore, the critical importance of improving logistics systems and creating transport routes connecting the regions of Central Asia and the South Caucasus was emphasized.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also expressed high appreciation for the measures being taken to accelerate the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the opinion of the President of Uzbekistan, such a document will serve as a reliable basis for ensuring stability and sustainable growth in the region.

In addition, the participants agreed on a plan for future meetings, both bilateral and multilateral, including events within the framework of the UN and CIS.

Uzbekistan and Serbia reached an agreement to expand trade and economic interaction, increase investments, and develop industrial ties following the first meeting of the Uzbekistan-Serbia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Belgrade on September 7.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and the Minister of International Economic Relations of Serbia, Nenad Popović. The parties discussed areas for deepening trade and economic ties, increasing investment volumes, and developing industrial partnership.

Particular attention was paid to preparing for the start of negotiations on concluding a free trade agreement. Prospective areas for joint work included pharmaceuticals, textile industry, agriculture, critical minerals, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence.

Participants also considered ways to simplify cargo transportation between the two countries, as well as prospects for cooperation in the field of railway infrastructure. It is planned that the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission will take place in Uzbekistan in 2027.

During his visit, Laziz Kudratov held a series of meetings and negotiations with leaders of major Serbian companies. Opportunities for further strengthening business ties and cooperation in priority sectors were discussed.