Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Egypt Oybek Usmanov met with the Ambassador of Zambia to Cairo Toppli Lubaya, Dunyo news agency reported.

The purpose of the meeting is to expand the geography of trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, as well as to establish cooperation in the field of labor migration of the republic with African countries.

Ambassador Topli Lubaya stressed the great interest of the Zambian leadership in establishing bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan.

He said that Zambia is considered a dynamically developing South African country, where, under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu, consistent reforms are being carried out to ensure economic growth and a course is set to intensify investment and trade cooperation with foreign states. Zambia is an active member of the COMESA Free Trade Agreement of African countries, as well as one of the founding states of the Southern African Development Community. The most developed industries in Zambia are mining (mining of copper, gold, cobalt, lead, coal, silver and emeralds), agricultural, irrigation and pharmaceutical sectors of the economy, there is a huge potential for the development of the tourism industry, where there are picturesque waterfalls, nature reserves and hunting grounds that attract foreign tourists.

Topli Lubaya expressed his country’s interest in establishing mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership with Uzbekistan, in particular, in agriculture, mining, processing, as well as in medicine and education. He stressed that the government of Zambia intends to continue to create favorable conditions for the work of highly qualified Uzbek specialists in various sectors of the economy, as well as the organization of study of Zambian students in higher educational institutions of our republic.

Ambassador Oybek Usmanov informed his Zambian colleagues about the large-scale reforms being carried out in our country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at further liberalizing and modernizing the economy, increasing the export potential of our country, creating a favorable climate for foreign investors.

A detailed presentation of the trade, economic, investment, scientific and technical potential of Uzbekistan and the possibilities for further development of interaction in the field of labor migration was presented.

The Ambassador of Zambia was especially interested in the information that the Fund for Supporting Citizens Working Abroad was created for the first time in Uzbekistan, more than 100 billion soums were allocated for these purposes.

It was noted that more than 500 highly qualified Uzbek specialists are successfully working in Zambia, who are a solid bridge in establishing long-term cooperation between our countries. Uzbek citizens work in the cities of Lusaka, Kitwe and Ndola, where they conduct business activities, making an active contribution to the development of medicine, mining and construction sectors of the country’s economy.

In this regard, gratitude was expressed to the government and leadership of Zambia for the favorable conditions and opportunities created in the republic for the labor activity of our citizens.

It was noted that Uzbekistan is interested in developing a comprehensive partnership with the countries of the Southern African Development Community, including Zambia, Angola, South Africa, Congo and other states as promising partners.

In turn, the head of the Zambian diplomatic mission with enthusiasm expressed his readiness to assist in the search for practical areas of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries. In this regard, Toppli Lubaya invited the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Cairo to Lusaka.

The sides assured that the Zambian Embassy in Cairo and the Foreign Ministry will provide comprehensive assistance in organizing meetings in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Labor and Social Protection, Tourism and Arts, as well as with the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and other relevant departments.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on further active interaction of diplomatic missions in order to implement practical steps to establish practical cooperation in various fields in the interests of the friendly peoples of Uzbekistan and Zambia.