Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 December, the leadership of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the International Forum of Commissioners for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs (Business Ombudsmen) of Europe and Asia "Interregional Interaction for the Protection of Business Rights".

The event, which was held in a hybrid format, was attended by business ombudsmen of Uzbekistan, Russia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Ukraine, as well as heads of OSCE missions in Uzbekistan, OECD, EBRD, GIZ (Germany), Council of Europe, UN, US Agencies International Development Agency (USAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), heads of ministries and departments, international experts and public figures, representatives of non-profit non-governmental organizations, private sector and media.

The forum is dedicated to discussing joint measures to expand interregional cooperation between business ombudsmen in Europe and Asia, to consolidate their efforts to improve the business environment, improve the investment climate, strengthen state support for business entities, reduce pressure on business, remove legal barriers, and exchange experience and practice in the field of protecting the rights of entrepreneurs and solving the problems they faced during the pandemic and in the post-period.

At the opening ceremony of the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov made a welcoming speech, noting the importance and effectiveness of the comprehensive reforms carried out in the country aimed at liberalizing the economy, developing entrepreneurship, ensuring the rule of law, combating corruption and ensuring transparency of the business environment.

The results achieved in these areas were announced: thus, in particular, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Uzbekistan has the fastest growing economy in the region with a GDP growth forecast of 6.3 percent by the end of 2021 and 6.1 percent in 2022, the international rating For the first time, Moody’s has assigned Uzbekistan a "positive" rating, this year Uzbekistan acquired the status of a beneficiary country of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP +) and became the first country to join the Expanded Generalized System of Preferences of Great Britain (GSP EF). Also, for the first time in the history of the country, Uzbekistan was elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council and took 44th place in the International Open Data Index, moving up 125 positions.

They emphasized the unwavering commitment to the course of irreversible reforms aimed at further democratizing society and the formation of a free market economy, and also expressed the government’s readiness to provide all-round support to investors, entrepreneurs and exporters, directly participating in removing barriers to business development and solving emerging problems.

Within the framework of the Forum, a number of thematic sessions were held, during which foreign practices of ensuring the protection of business and mechanisms of practical support for entrepreneurs in the post-like period were discussed.

As a result of the event, the Tashkent Declaration of the Forum of Commissioners for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs of Europe and Asia was signed, which defines the basic principles of cooperation in the fields of protecting the rights and legitimate interests of business entities, supporting business development, as well as international cooperation. According to the Declaration, an Advisory Committee of Ombudsmen for the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights is also being created, which is designed to become an effective permanent platform for interaction between business ombudsmen in Europe and Asia.