Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan and Russia expect to launch the Agroexpress project on an ongoing basis from December. The project can allow to increase the supply of 1 million tons of products by 2030. This was stated by the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Maxim Reshetnikov noted that the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia is growing steadily. According to him, in 2020, trade increased by more than 15.6%, despite the pandemic.

At the same time, following the results of 8 months of this year, the growth of mutual trade amounted to 6.6%, said the head of the Ministry of Economic Development.

Reshetnikov noted that the Agroexpress project for the accelerated delivery of agricultural products from Moscow to Tashkent and back in a refrigerator train has become one of the drivers of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia.

“The project will help increase mutual supplies, ensure the speed and quality of products,” said Maxim Reshetnikov. According to him, the initiative is being implemented within the framework of the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation to increase the import of agricultural products into the country from the CIS member states.

“It is very important that in the near future the first trial Agroexpress leaves for Uzbekistan and comes back with the products,” the minister said. “Our common goal is that by 2030, 1 million tons of products should be delivered to our countries by rail. This is an ambitious task that can be achieved,” the minister said.

Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Foreign Economic Relations - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov expressed hope that from December Agroexpress will start operating on a permanent basis.