07 November 2024

Tashkent hosted the official opening of the 2024 European Economic Days

On November 6, Tashkent hosted the official opening of the 2024 European Economic Days, organized by the European-Uzbek Association for Economic Cooperation (EUROUZ), the press service of the MIIT reports.

The ceremony gathered over 300 government and business leaders from Uzbekistan and the EU, aiming to enhance partnerships, foster new business opportunities, and deepen economic cooperation.

The event opened with a message from the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, expressing confidence that this inaugural conference would significantly advance mutual trade, economic, investment, and cooperative relations with Europe, unlocking untapped potential between our friendly nations.

It was noted that nearly 1,000 European-invested companies now operate in Uzbekistan, with optimal conditions created for joint projects across sectors such as electrical engineering, machinery, chemistry, mining and metallurgy, energy, agriculture, textiles, tourism, and more.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a video address, underscored Uzbekistan’s rising prominence in global trade and investment, as well as its strategic location and vast potential for collaboration with the EU.

The EU confirmed readiness to advance cooperation in information technology and mining and mineral processing, which will help establish new enterprises, create jobs, and jointly develop new transport and logistics corridors.

The Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, highlighted key achievements, including over $30 billion in joint projects with EU companies and the participation of 320+ EU representatives at the 3rd Tashkent Investment Forum.

Participants received insights into Uzbekistan’s initiatives to improve its investment and business environment. This included effective measures to increase trade volumes, develop cross-border transport corridors, and generate new business ventures, especially in electronics, agriculture, food production, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

The EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, commended Uzbekistan’s remarkable progress on irreversible reforms, its open economy, and investor-friendly environment, encouraging EU companies to engage actively in joint projects and broaden their presence across multiple economic sectors.

The event concluded with the signing of a Roadmap for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Raw Material Value Chains between the European Union and Uzbekistan.