Uzbekistan, Belarus plan to implement 310 joint projects worth $2 bln
TASHKENT. July 15 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan and Belarus plan to implement 310 joint projects worth $2 billion in the fields of mechanical engineering, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, wood processing and healthcare, the press service of the Uzbek president said.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on implementing agreements on expanding interregional cooperation reached during his visit to Belarus last week.
"As part of the official visit of the head of our state to Belarus on July 8-9, important agreements were reached on raising mutual trade to $2 billion, as well as on implementing 310 joint projects and measures with a total value of $2 billion in the fields of mechanical engineering, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, wood processing and healthcare," the press service said.
Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements in a short time, organizing new enterprises and jobs, and creating the required conditions for developing entrepreneurship.
"For the placement of investment projects in Belarus, industrial facilities and state property have been offered, and there are extensive agricultural areas. The country's agricultural land amounts to 8 million hectares and occupies around 40% of its territory. These opportunities create a solid foundation for organizing joint production, developing agricultural cooperation, expanding business ties and organized employment of citizens," the press service said.
In particular, the need to form lists of citizens and entrepreneurs wishing to work or do business in Belarus was noted.
During the presentation, the president was briefed on the work carried out as part of cooperation between the Andijan and Vitebsk regions. A road map has been approved between the two regions and the implementation of specific initiatives has begun. An agreement has been reached on implementing new projects on the basis of 11 livestock complexes. Each of them is designed for keeping from 200 to 3,000 head of cattle and has sufficient forage land.
In total, in the Vitebsk and other regions of Belarus, a package of 30 new projects with a total value of over $100 million has been formed in the fields of livestock farming, wood processing, logistics, trade and services. In particular, it is planned that a large dairy complex designed for 3,000 head of cattle, a number of medium-scale livestock farms, as well as an enterprise for deep wood processing and the production of pellets from wood waste will be created.
The president gave instructions to extend the cooperation model formed between the Andijan and Vitebsk regions to other regions as well. In particular, the Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Namangan, Tashkent, Fergana, Samarkand and Surkhandarya regions will be assigned to the Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno, Gomel and Brest regions of Belarus, the press service said. Separate road maps will be approved for creating new production facilities on the basis of industrial and agricultural facilities and implementing other business projects.
"Creating modern logistics infrastructure in order to revitalize mutual trade and reduce freight transportation costs were also considered. By the end of the year, it is planned in cooperation with the Belarusian Railway to put an intermodal logistics center at the Orsha station in the Vitebsk region into operation, which will serve export-import cargo on preferential tariff terms. In addition, the task has been set to establish, together with Belarusian companies, direct block-train service between the two countries," the press service said.
Attention was also paid to citizens' employment. At the first stage, it is planned that 1,100 Uzbek citizens will be employed on a competitive basis at 13 enterprises in the Vitebsk and other regions of Belarus.
Responsible officials have been instructed to monitor the implementation of the agreements reached and to conduct an analysis of the implementation of the road maps, the press service said.
