Prospects of Uzbek-Portuguese cooperation in various spheres were discussed in Lisbon

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Portugal with residence in Paris Sardor Rustambayev visited Lisbon on a working visit, the correspondent of “Dunyo” news agency reports.

During the visit, a number of meetings were held with representatives of ministries and departments of Portugal, at which issues of bilateral cooperation and prospects for relations in various directions were discussed.

In particular, a meeting was held with the Director General for Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rui Vinyash. The diplomat expressed the readiness of the Portuguese side to further strengthen the political dialogue and raise bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level.

The sides noted their readiness to work actively to strengthen cultural and humanitarian cooperation by organizing visits and joint events.

Rui Vinyash noted that there is a great potential for developing cooperation in the field of agriculture, including the introduction of economical irrigation technologies. “70% of the water received by Portugal from Spain is used for agriculture”, – the diplomat said.

A meeting was held with the newly appointed Director General of the Portuguese Investment and Foreign Trade Agency “AICEP Portugal Global” Filipe Costa, who highly appreciated the economic reforms carried out under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, as well as the current state of Portuguese-Uzbek cooperation.

According to him, the country report prepared in 2022 by AICEP Portugal Global entitled “Uzbekistan outlook” has become a necessary document for Portuguese companies interested in establishing their business in Uzbekistan.

Filipe Costa noted the readiness of AICEP Portugal Global for fruitful cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Luis Rebelo de Souza, the member of the Executive board of AICEP Portugal Global, noted the benefits provided by Uzbekistan for foreign investors.

According to him, Uzbekistan is an important trading partner of Portugal in Central Asia. “It will be interesting for Portuguese enterprises to establish and develop bilateral cooperation in such areas as agriculture, construction, light industry, pharmaceuticals, tourism and others”, – he said.

There was also a meeting with the director of the organization “Visit Portugal”, a member of the Supervisory Board of the National Agency “Turismo de Portugal” Filipe Silva.

He highly appreciated the ongoing reforms in the tourism sector in Uzbekistan, in particular, the liberalization of the visa regime, the provision of benefits and preferences for the development of the tourism industry and the creation of favorable conditions for the promotion of domestic tourism.

According to him, Portugal is well aware of the positive trends in the development of tourism in Uzbekistan, which has become a strategic branch of the country’s economy.

Filipe Silva noted the readiness of the Portuguese side for close cooperation with Uzbekistan in the field of tourism development through the exchange of experience.