Uzbek president, Russian Dep PM discuss promotion of cooperation projects
TASHKENT. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed maintaining the growth of Uzbek-Russian trade and further promotion of cooperation projects with Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, the Uzbek leader's press service reported on Monday.
"Particular attention was devoted to the importance of maintaining the pace of growth of bilateral trade, as well as further promotion of cooperation projects, including at the forum of the international industrial exhibition Innoprom Central Asia, which will be held for already the third time in Tashkent in April of this year," the press release said.
Mirziyoyev and Manturov discussed the implementation of understandings and agreements in the area of trade and economic cooperation that were adopted following the Uzbek president's official visit to Russia on October 5-7, 2023, the release said.
"In the course of the meeting it was noted that the bilateral trade turnover grew by 6.6% last year. Projects are being implemented in the area of manufacturing, energy, transport, metallurgy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other sectors. High marks were given to the results of meetings of the intergovernmental commission, and interregional, educational and healthcare forums held in 2023," the release said.
The Russian government's press service, citing Manturov, reported on Monday that Russia's visible trade turnover with Uzbekistan grew by more than 11% in 2023.
Following the talks, Manturov said that the parties discussed the creation of a development fund to support investment projects that use Russian industrial products.
Russia's Cabinet said the negotiations in Uzbekistan touched on issues of cooperation in railway transport, infrastructure and energy, including a project to modernize the Central Asian country's gas transport system. The officials also discussed the creation of a metallurgical cluster based around the Tebinbulak deposit, a gas chemical complex in the Bukhara region, a copper processing plant at Almalyk MMC and the construction of a large-capacity nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.
A roadmap for the development of cooperation between Russian Railways and Uzbekistan Railways was signed during the visit.