Uzbek-French business forum takes place in Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- During the visit of French business circles, an Uzbek-French business forum was held at the International Business Center.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The business forum was held with the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Uzbekistan Violaine De Villemeur and heads of relevant ministries and departments, national agencies and khokimiyat of the city of Tashkent.

The French delegation included representatives of 14 major companies, such as VRO, RJD Logistics, Nawinia, Urus Advisory, Assystem, Leroy Merlin, Armo Group, Great Silk Way " other.

The purpose of organizing a business forum was to discuss potential cooperation and study project proposals in industries such as energy and nuclear energy, engineering services and civil engineering, logistics, transportation of construction materials, electrical products, cosmetics.

During the event, it was noted that a number of important agreements are in force between France and Uzbekistan, forming a legal platform for bilateral relations. In particular, in accordance with the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the EU, the most favored nation regime has been established in mutual trade between the countries, since 1996 the Convention on the avoidance of double taxation of income and prevention of tax evasion on income and capital has been in effect. Since 2001, the Uzbek-French Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation has been active, the last meeting of which was held in July 2018.

The visit at the highest level of the leadership of Uzbekistan in October 2018 raised the development of Uzbek-French relations to a new level, where agreements on the implementation of projects totaling about US$5 billion were signed, including in the electric power industry - for the construction of a photoelectric power plant in Samarkand region with the French company Total EREN.

The initiative to abolish an entry visa for French citizens was a significant factor in attracting the flow of French tourists and potential investors, opening the territory of Central Asia as a potential market for the realization of proposals.

Within the framework of the forum, presentations were held where representatives of the company presented their activities to the Uzbek side and outlined the areas in demand for the implementation of joint projects.

For the French delegation, study tours to the Navoi, Samarkand and Bukhara regions were also organized, where meetings with the leadership of the local administration and visits to the free economic zones, new industrial facilities and housing complexes and Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combine will be held.