Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Region and Belarus’ Minsk Region have agreed to expand interregional cooperation in trade and economic relations, investment and manufacturing.
Following a meeting between the regional leaders, the sides signed several documents aimed at developing direct ties and launching new joint projects, the press service of the Ferghana Region Hokimiyat said.
On 24 September, Ferghana Region Hokim Khairullo Bozorov received a delegation from Minsk Region led by Alexei Kushnarenko, Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee.
The talks covered prospects for trade and economic cooperation, investment and industrial cooperation. Bozorov noted that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Belarus on 8–9 July at the invitation of Alexander Lukashenko had given new impetus to relations between the two countries.
The participants discussed opportunities for direct cooperation between the regions, taking into account the complementary economic potential of Ferghana and Minsk regions. Representatives of both sides presented their regions’ capabilities in agriculture, industry, trade, tourism and the social sector.
Ferghana Region has potential in textile production, the cultivation and processing of fruit and vegetables, industrial production and human resources.
Minsk Region, in turn, has expertise in agricultural technologies, livestock farming, machine building and the production of modern equipment.
According to Alexei Kushnarenko, Uzbekistan is one of Minsk Region’s important partners. Bilateral trade reached US$150 million this year, 28% higher than the figure recorded last year.
The Belarusian delegation included representatives of executive committees, specialists in education, healthcare and agriculture, as well as heads of enterprises and organizations. The visit programme included visits to enterprises and various centres, along with talks on investment projects.
Following the meeting, the sides identified promising areas of cooperation, including agriculture, light industry, machine building and tourism. They also reviewed projects that had already moved to the practical implementation stage.
The sides separately proposed that Volozhin and Ferghana districts develop a joint action plan within three months based on an earlier friendship agreement. The document provides for cooperation and exchanges in the economic, cultural and educational spheres.
Following the talks, Ferghana and Minsk regions signed a memorandum on interregional cooperation. An agreement establishing friendly relations between Volozhin and Ferghana districts was also concluded.
Another memorandum was signed by the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ferghana regional office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.
