Uzbekistan, U.S. sign agreements worth $12 bln

TASHKENT. Oct 19 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan on Monday signed 54 agreements with U.S. companies covering trade, investment, and technological cooperation, with a total value of $12 billion, according to Uzbek media citing the country's Investment, Industry and Trade Ministry.

"The agreements span a range of sectors, including industry, transport and energy infrastructure, critical minerals, the financial sector, digital technologies, agriculture, healthcare, and education," according to the information.

Specifically, initiatives with Wabtec are aimed at localizing the production of railway equipment and components.

Agreements with Franklin Templeton, Oppenheimer & Co., Citigroup, and BlackRock focus on facilitating access to international capital markets for Uzbek entities, attracting institutional investors, and financing infrastructure projects.

In the mining sector, agreements with ReElement Technologies, Traxys, and Trafigura concern the exploration and development of deposits, technological cooperation, and the supply of mineral resources, including developing Uzbekistan's capabilities regarding critical minerals.

The ministry said that representatives from over 400 companies participated in the business program on Monday in Samarkand, with more than 100 from the United States, 100 from other Central Asian countries, and 200 enterprises from Uzbekistan.