Uzbekistan, Syria to Expand Business Contacts and Trade

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and Syria have agreed to expand direct business contacts and pursue new trade and investment projects following a meeting between representatives of the Union of Syrian Chambers of Commerce and around 20 Syrian companies, the Dunyo news agency reported.

The meeting was held in Damascus and focused on developing trade and economic ties and implementing agreements reached earlier at the Uzbek-Syrian business forum in Bukhara.

The talks continued a dialogue between entrepreneurs from the two countries that began in February. Participants discussed opportunities to strengthen direct cooperation and implement specific joint projects.

The discussions focused on the food industry, construction materials, electrical engineering and light industry. The sides also considered establishing direct business contacts in these and other promising areas.

Syrian entrepreneurs noted strong demand for construction materials amid reconstruction efforts in the country. In this context, they expressed interest in cooperation with Uzbek construction and development companies.

The sides also discussed expanding trade in electrical products and light-industry goods.

Particular attention was paid to the potential of the Uzbekistan Trade House in Aleppo. The participants considered ways to use the facility to expand bilateral trade, as well as prospects for establishing similar trading platforms in other regions of Syria.

Syrian entrepreneurs were invited to participate in a business forum planned to be held in Tashkent in autumn as part of the first meeting of the Uzbek-Syrian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Following the meeting, the sides agreed to maintain regular direct contacts between business representatives, organize reciprocal business missions and expand the participation of companies from both countries in international exhibitions and trade fairs.

They also agreed to intensify work on specific trade and investment projects.