The first Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan started in Minsk

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The first Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan started in Minsk. For more than 25 years of bilateral cooperation, relations between countries have been actively developing both in politics and in the economy. In the five months of this year, trade has grown steadily and amounted to about 89 million dollars. However, according to experts, in the coming years it can be significantly increased. Therefore, one of the key topics of the forum is cooperation at the regional level, which will give impetus to bilateral cooperation.

A highly representative delegation has arrived from Uzbekistan, headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis, Sadik Safayev. The guests from Uzbekistan - more than 120 people. These are parliamentarians, heads of ministries, departments and enterprises. Quite a lot of representatives of business circles of both countries.

Forum participants discuss dozens of questions. Particular attention is paid to industry. According to the chairman of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly on Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex, Transport and Communications Andrei Rybak, states need to expand cooperation:

- The decision to hold the Forum of Regions is evidence that there is a significant agenda for discussing bilateral cooperation at the highest level. Each successful realized project is a concrete benefit for ordinary citizens of Belarus and Uzbekistan. This is the creation of new jobs, increasing incomes, as well as the development of regions. It is extremely important to provide support to regional relations.

By the way, several joint enterprises with Belarus for the production of agricultural machinery are already functioning in Uzbekistan. In addition, the legal framework of bilateral relations includes more than 60 different agreements.

Just on the eve of the forum held thematic sections. At them, experts in the field of industrial cooperation, the agro-industrial complex, the humanitarian, information and communication, and scientific spheres offered concrete solutions to enhance cooperation. As the chairman of the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis on the issues of innovative development, information policy and information technologies Ilkhom Abdullayev noted, countries are ready to increase industrial cooperation:

- I emphasize that the state visit of the President of Belarus to our country last year gave an impetus to relations between the countries. All economic cooperation takes place against the backdrop of close political relations. We have very great opportunities for cooperation and joint activities. Uzbekistan is one of the key states of Central Asia, and we could become a kind of hub for the supply of Belarusian products to the entire region. We are interested in the transport and logistics infrastructure that Belarus has.

In addition, Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry of Uzbekistan Sahib Saifnazarov expressed hope that during the forum a number of important agreements and arrangements will be reached. Among the promising areas for the industrial co-operation, he called the electrical, textile, food industry. According to him, the Uzbek side expects to sign contracts with Belarusian partners at the Forum of Regions for 200-300 million dollars.

It is also interesting that not only big players came to the forum, but also small farmers who want to buy Belarusian equipment. In a conversation with a farmer from Tashkent, Madina Anorboeva said that she was considering the option of buying both Belarusian tractors and combines.

Today, the delegations will hold a plenary session, which will be attended by the heads of parliaments of both countries. The main topic will be the cooperation of the regions as a key factor in the development of interstate relations. It is expected that following the results of the parties will sign about two dozen agreements.