Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan launch joint projects worth $1.2 bln
ASTANA. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan plan to jointly implement seven projects with a total value of $1.2 billion in industry, construction, oil and gas chemistry, finance, logistics and tourism, the Kazakh presidential press service said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the launch ceremony of the joint projects via videoconference. Among them were the launch of the Central Asia International Center for Industrial Cooperation in the Syrdarya and Turkestan regions, the opening of the headquarters of Tenge Bank in Tashkent, the start of construction of a multifunctional logistics center in the Tashkent region, the Astana residential complex and the Astana hotel complex in New Tashkent, an oil and gas chemical complex for the production of linear alkylbenzene in the Kashkadarya region and the Tashkent hotel complex in the Kazakh capital.
Tokayev carried out a state visit to Tashkent on November 14-15.
At the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council in Tashkent, Tokayev said that Astana and Tashkent could effectively cooperate in the mining and metallurgy sector, transport and logistics, and in artificial intelligence development, the press service said.
Cooperation in rare and rare-earth metals extraction and processing also appears promising, Tokayev said. He proposed that the newly created working group in this area carefully study all aspects and submit proposals for establishing mutually beneficial cooperation.
Expanding cooperation in transit and transport holds strategic significance, Tokayev said in his address. Measures are being taken to optimize tariffs, simplify administrative procedures, actively develop border infrastructure and modernize checkpoints.
He also noted the importance of continuing effective cooperation in developing the Trans-Caspian route (TITR, the Middle Corridor), the North-South corridor, as well as railway routes through Afghanistan. Tokayev invited Uzbekistan to form partnerships at the ports of Aktau and Kuryk for joint development of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor and implementation of logistics projects.
Kazakhstan is also paying greater attention to the digitalization of public services and the development of IT technologies, Tokayev said. The Alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence has opened, the process of establishing a Research University in this field has been launched and a national supercomputer has been put into operation. Uzbekistan, as is known, has also adopted a course of digitalization and AI development and has achieved success in this area. "We invite Uzbek companies to close cooperation and implementing joint projects in this promising field. A convincing example of successful synergy is the cooperation between Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan," he said.
Tokayev also called on Uzbekistan to deepen cooperation in agriculture and move from simple trade transactions to forming full production chains in meat, grain and oilseed processing, livestock development and organic crop production.
Tokayev also placed great hopes on industrial cooperation. "At present, we have 78 joint projects worth more than one and a half billion dollars [$1.7 billion], which involve the creation of over 15,000 jobs. Full implementation of these projects will significantly strengthen our economic and investment cooperation," he said.
Following the meeting of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Supreme Interstate Council, Tokayev and Mirziyoyev signed a number of documents, including a decision to establish a bilateral working group on geology and extraction of rare and rare-earth metals.
In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Kazakh Industry and Construction Ministry and the Uzbek Mining Industry and Geology Ministry on developing cooperation in the mining sector, as well as a framework agreement on creating a joint investment platform.
A framework cooperation agreement was also signed with the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development, the press service of JSC Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund said. The document aims to develop a strategic partnership and create a joint investment platform for implementing projects in key sectors of the economy. "The agreement opens new opportunities for joint investments in fields such as metallurgy, mining, transport logistics and others," it said.
The parties agreed to search for and develop new investment opportunities as well as exchange information on current and prospective projects.
