Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - In order to intensify work to promote economic diplomacy of the republic, attract Japanese investment in the economy of the republic, as well as expand humanitarian ties with Japan, on 12 March 2021, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Japan held a number of meetings in Hiroshima.

During the trip, meetings and negotiations were held with the leadership of Hiroshima University, representatives of the Japanese companies Balcom Group, Balcom Technologies Co. Ltd, Kunugi, Murakami FARM, Afrofair Internet, as well as with students and compatriots working in Japanese companies.

At the meeting with the rector of Hiroshima University M. Ochi, the state and prospects of cooperation with universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the expansion of areas of cooperation and partnerships with educational institutions of the republic in the field of medicine, as well as the establishment of cooperation on student exchange between universities were discussed.

M. Ochi gave a high assessment of the academic performance and thirst for knowledge on the part of Uzbek students, supported the initiative to establish cooperation with the Tashkent Medical Academy and the Tashkent Medical Pediatric Institute.

Further, meetings were held with students of the University of Hiroshima, as well as compatriots working in Japanese companies. In general, students positively assessed the learning process and social conditions. Compatriots working in Japanese companies also expressed satisfaction with the working and living conditions.

Then, in accordance with the program, meetings were held with representatives of a number of Japanese companies, at which Japanese entrepreneurs were thoroughly familiarized with the large-scale reforms carried out in Uzbekistan over the past four years. The progress achieved in liberalizing the economy, improving macroeconomic indicators, conditions for investors and business people, the provided benefits and preferences for investors in free economic and small industrial zones, provided detailed information about the "Renewed Uzbekistan".

Companies expressed great interest in the tasks of economic development of Uzbekistan in the current year, defined in the address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in December 2020, as well as the State Program "Year of Support for Youth and Strengthening the Health of the Population."

Following the talks, Japanese companies expressed great interest in the possibilities of establishing and expanding business in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Thus, during the negotiations, the Balcom Group, which has already invested more than US$10 million in the republic and is actively campaigning for Japanese companies to work with Uzbekistan, proposed to create an Uzbek-Japanese association of business representatives. The company also plans to create training centers for training specialists in the field of car repair and maintenance and language courses.

During the visit to the Kunugi, which produces confectionery products, agreements were reached on opening a confectionery shop in the Namangan region and selling products in Uzbekistan. The company, with the assistance of the Embassy, has been allocated a land plot in Namangan, where construction work will begin in the near future.

In addition, negotiations were held with the Afrofair Internet company on cooperation in the field of information technology. The company expressed its readiness to establish cooperation with the IT-park in Tashkent and attract Uzbek specialists to develop software products, as well as develop cooperation in the training of highly qualified specialists in the IT field.

During the negotiations, Murakami FARM confirmed its readiness to share experience and establish cooperation in growing healthy greenhouse crops based on a specially developed technology. The head of the company K. Murakami expressed his readiness to visit Uzbekistan and explore the possibilities of cooperation with the republic.

As a result of negotiations with Japanese companies, an agreement was reached on organizing a visit of a delegation headed by the head of Balcom Grolup T. Yamazak to Uzbekistan to implement the agreements reached and conduct substantive negotiations.