Moscow and Tashkent are strengthening their cooperation, despite efforts by other countries to sow discord between them, stated Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during a meeting of the joint commission at the level of heads of government from Russia and Uzbekistan. He emphasized the need to enhance collaboration between the two nations.
"Together, we are actively advancing our trade and economic cooperation, effectively addressing all the challenges that may arise, despite the efforts of those who seek to disrupt our collaborative efforts," said the Russian prime minister.
He described Uzbekistan as "one of the leading economic partners in the Central Asian region." However, he firmly believes that "the potential of both Russia and Uzbekistan's economies far exceeds our current level of cooperation, with numerous untapped opportunities in new sectors." "Our shared goal is to elevate our relationship to a more advanced stage," emphasized Mishustin. He stressed the importance of jointly advancing trade and economic cooperation, based on principles of equality, mutual respect, and consideration of each other's interests. "I have full confidence that we can achieve this," he added.
During the current meeting, the Russian prime minister suggested outlining "the prospects for further cooperation in key areas encompassing trade, economy, investment, science and technology, culture, and humanitarian relations," with a particular focus on "expanding collaboration in industry, agriculture, energy, high technology, education, and healthcare."
Mishustin emphasized that "despite the challenging global circumstances, both economic and investment relations between the two countries continue to grow steadily." He noted that in 2022, mutual trade turnover increased by over a quarter, and from January to July 2023, it increased by an additional 14%. The Russian prime minister believes that Uzbekistan's participation in Eurasian integration "will create favorable conditions for the development of the national economy and the improvement of the well-being of its citizens, as well as stimulate business and investment activities." He underlined that "integration cooperation helps mitigate the impact of adverse external factors by establishing robust production and logistical chains, adopting modern technologies, and harnessing the advantages of the digital economy."
Business contacts and joint projects
"We believe it's essential to foster stronger business connections between our entrepreneurs," highlighted Mishustin, emphasizing that prominent Russian corporations are increasingly expanding their footprint in Uzbekistan, with their collective investments constituting a fifth of the overall foreign capital investment. "The count of joint ventures is consistently rising, encompassing sectors such as industry, the agro-industrial complex, textile manufacturing, and transportation infrastructure," stated the Russian prime minister. Mishustin identified the energy sector as one of the most promising areas for collaboration.
As an instance, he pointed to the establishment of a state-of-the-art gas processing complex at the Kandym field cluster, the advancement of other fields, and blueprints for constructing a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan utilizing Russian technology. "Challenges with power supply experienced in Uzbekistan last winter underscored the correctness of the NPP project and the demand for opting for nuclear energy. Executing the project will assist in fulfilling Uzbekistan's electricity requirements, generating thousands of new employment opportunities, and unleashing Uzbekistan's industrial capabilities," articulated the Russian prime minister.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS