Uzbekistan becomes full member of International Organisation of Vine and Wine

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan became a full member of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). This was announced during the 16th session of the General Assembly of the OIV, which took place in Punta del Este (Uruguay) on 23 November 2018.

About 500 delegates from more than 50 countries and international structures took part in the forum, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said.

The meeting of the OIV began with a solemn presentation of the official flag of the organization of the Uzbek delegation headed by Ambassador to the United States Javlon Vakhabov. This ceremony marked the acceptance of our country into the organization, and Uzbekistan became the 47th member of the OIV.

The President of the OIV, Regina Vanderlinde, sincerely congratulated Uzbekistan on joining the ranks of this association: “Uzbekistan is a quality filling of the OIV and will enhance its role in strengthening intergovernmental partnership in the fields of viticulture and winemaking, as well as the growth of the international authority of the organization.”

According to her, “Uzbekistan, having a unique scientific, technological and resource base, as well as having unsurpassed varieties of wine, can become a worthy player in the global wine industry.”

In his speech, the head of the delegation of Uzbekistan noted that Uzbekistan considers its membership in the OIV as an opportunity to increase the export attractiveness of domestic winemaking products by introducing international standards for production and labeling, as well as mechanisms to improve the conditions for the production and marketing of wine products. In addition, establishment of fruitful contacts and partnerships with leading experts and research institutions of the organization will help to improve the technological and scientific level of knowledge of our winemakers.

Today, Uzbekistan is the main producer of grapes and its products in Central Asia. Favorable climatic conditions for this industry make it possible to grow here many varieties for obtaining high-quality varieties of a crawling, raisin, table style, possessing the necessary properties for winter storage for shipment over long distances, as well as being the raw material for the production of different types of wines, juices, concentrates, brandy and sparkling wine.

Within the framework of the General Assembly meeting, the Uzbek delegation proposed to hold in 2021 a session of the General Assembly and the World Congress of the OIV in the city of Samarkand.

During the session of the OIV General Assembly, elections of a new CEO were also held. Following a vote of representatives of Member States, the President of the Spanish Wine Industry Association, Pau Roca Basco, was elected the new CEO of OIV. He takes office on 1 January 2019.

During the meeting with Pau Roca Basko, an agreement was reached on the organization of his first foreign trip in a new capacity to Uzbekistan in early January 2019.

The next meeting of the OIV General Assembly will be held next July in Geneva (Switzerland).