27.05.2022

Distinguished Sadyr Nurgojoevich!

Esteemed heads of delegations!

 

I am very pleased to welcome all the participants in the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

I would like to join the words of my colleagues and express a gratitude to distinguished Sadyr Nurgojoevich for organizing our meeting.

I am convinced that the active chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan in the EAEU shall serve to deepen the multifaceted cooperation of our countries in the framework of the Eurasian Union.

 

Dear colleagues!

 

Uzbekistan continues to develop partnerships with the Eurasian Economic Union as an observer-state. This direction is vital for us, since the EAEU countries are our natural partners.

It is gratifying that we have jointly managed to mitigate the negative consequences of the pandemic and ensure positive dynamics in trade and economic cooperation among our countries.

Hereby, the Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with the EAEU states increased by 30% last year, and it has tripled in the first four months of this year.

The annual growth rate of attracted investments from the EAEU countries is about 25%.

Along with this, the rapid changes and crises taking place in the world are the greatest challenge to the stability of our countries.

The era of globalization is moving into the phase of the formation of a new world order.

We are witnessing the introduction of unprecedented restrictive measures, the disruption of supply chains and cooperation ties, the rise in commodity and food prices, and the aggravation of social tension.

We believe that in the current situation it is important to jointly develop a set of joint actions, find innovative solutions and use non-standard mechanisms of interaction.

Today, to create favorable conditions for increasing trade and economic cooperation is urgent as never before.

Further elimination of technical barriers and recognition of certification in mutual trade between Uzbekistan and the EAEU countries shall significantly simplify the access of goods to our markets.

In this regard, we are looking forward to support the non-proliferation of restrictions on the export of food and raw materials to Uzbekistan.

We also consider it important to expand the agro-industrial cooperation through the joint production of crops and food products.

To enhance the impact of these actions, we suggest to develop an Agricultural Cooperation Program.

To increase the effectiveness of these actions, we propose to develop a program of agricultural cooperation.

To ensure saturation of our markets, this Program could cover the issues of joint cultivation of grain and oilseeds in the EAEU states, as well as horticulture products, including the early-ripe ones, in Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, it would be appropriate to use, first of all, the potential of the regions of our countries for its implementation.

The new challenges dictate the need for further development of alternative transport corridors, strengthening the transport connectivity in the southern and eastern directions.

In the near future, we plan to start the practical implementation of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway construction project. This project will create additional opportunities for entering the markets of the Asia-Pacific Region. This route will complement the existing railway lines in the East-West direction.

Along with this, we are ready to cooperate with the EAEU partners in the implementation of the project for the construction of a Trans-Afghan railway from Termez to Pakistani Peshawar. This project shall provide the shortest access to South Asia with a market of 2 billion consumers.

In addition, we stand for a more efficient use of innovative potential and the development of new forms of industrial cooperation among our countries, primarily in the high technologies.

The first practical step in this direction was the holding of the International Industrial Exhibition «INNOPROM. Central Asia». More than a thousand companies from the EAEU states took part in it. We intend to further expand this important platform.

To this end, we also propose to develop a joint Action Plan to stimulate cooperation ties and localization programs, especially in the chemistry, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, instrumentation and electronics.

At the same time, it is important to use the capabilities of our research institutes and technology centers, where the new competencies are emerging.

The issues related to labor migration and the movement of specialists to our countries are becoming more topical.

We propose to adopt the necessary documents and introduce simplified procedures that will ensure the effective mobilization of labor resources in accordance with the rapidly changing needs of the economies of the EAEU member-states and observer-states.

In the context of addressing the consequences of the pandemic, the tourism sector can become a natural driver of economic development. Year to date, we have seen a noticeable increase in the inflow of tourists to Uzbekistan, primarily from the EAEU states.

We suggest to hold a Tourism Industry Development Forum in Uzbekistan this autumn with the participation of our leading companies.

It is also important to work out the issue of fully resuming passenger transport links between our countries.

 

Dear participants of the Summit!

 

In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm Uzbekistan’s commitment to the progressive development of the mutually beneficial cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.

I am confident that the today’s meeting outcomes shall further strengthen the multifaceted partnerships, sustainable economic development and prosperity in our countries.

 

Thank you for your attention!

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