Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 22 April 2020, a videoconference was held with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mukhisa Kituyi.

They discussed prospects for enhancing bilateral cooperation by attracting UNCTAD technical assistance to develop foreign trade relations and attract foreign investment in Uzbekistan.

During the conversation, Mukhisa Kituyi praised the reforms carried out in the country under the leadership of President Sh. Mirziyoyev to liberalize the economy and introduce market principles for its management, and also emphasized the active growth of interest of representatives of the foreign business community in the processes of economic transformation in the country over the past few years.

In this regard, a proposal was announced for cooperation in the preparation and publication of the “Review of the Investment Policy of Uzbekistan”, as well as the “Investment Guide (Guide) on Uzbekistan” - such an analytics was released only once in the country's history - in 1999 and 2009, respectively.

Separately, opportunities for joint work to improve the system of managing the activities of free economic zones in Uzbekistan were examined - in this vein, an agreement was reached to assist UNCTAD in the development of a "Concept for the Development of Free Economic Zones". It is planned that the pilot project for the implementation of the Concept will be the SEZ “Khazarasp” in the Khorezm region.

Mukhisa Kituyi supported the initiative to implement a project to develop the value chain in the fruit and vegetable sector of Uzbekistan as part of the UNCTAD special program to support landlocked states. In addition, the organization’s leadership expressed its willingness to assist in the preparation for the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan of a special program to increase exports of processed fruits and vegetables.

Cooperation in the processes of integrating the economy of Uzbekistan into the global economy is no less productive - UNCTAD is ready to use the available tools and mechanisms to support Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and obtain the status of a beneficiary country of the General System of Preferences of the European Union “GSP +” through advanced training coordinators and negotiators of Uzbekistan involved in these issues.

Particular attention was paid to joint initiatives in the field of technology and digitalization - UNCTAD management offered assistance in:

(1) improving the national statistical system of attracted and mastered foreign investments, introducing the ASYCUDA system in the structure of customs authorities, which provides for the complete digitalization of customs procedures and their transition to a non-contact mode of operation;

(2) providing technical consulting in the development of the functional of the investment portal of Uzbekistan and its promotion among foreign business circles.

Following the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to active cooperation and outlined a plan of priority actions for the practical implementation of joint initiatives.