Business news

5 Dec 2023

Doubling trade named major task for Belarus, Uzbekistan

An archive photo

MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) – Our major task is to double trade between the two countries, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Khurram Teshabaev told the media ahead of a meeting of Belarus-Uzbekistan joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation, BelTA has learned.

Samarkand is hosting the tenth meeting of Belarus-Uzbekistan joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation. The parties are expected to discuss the state and prospects of trade and economic cooperation. In particular, the meeting participants plan to focus on industry, agriculture and healthcare.

“We have been thoroughly preparing for the visit of the Belarusian delegation,” Khurram Teshabaev told journalists, emphasizing that the agenda of bilateral relations was very rich.

“The task is to double the trade between our countries. Of course, there are traditional areas where Belarusian business is very strong. This includes furniture, dairy products, pharmaceuticals – an important area for us. We have specific proposals and projects in all these areas,” Khurram Teshabaev said outlining the range of issues to be discussed.

He added that a business forum featuring representatives of both countries was scheduled to take place in the afternoon. According to the deputy minister, Uzbekistan’s companies show great interest in establishing bilateral business relations.

Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko and Uzbekistan Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov are expected to attend the Uzbek-Belarusian business forum.

More than 60 representatives of Belarus (ministries and agencies, concerns, enterprises and organizations) are expected to take part in the business forum. They will focus on machine building, light and food industry, woodworking, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicine, and wholesale trade. Some 200 representatives of Uzbekistan’s authorities and companies will attend the forum. In 2022, mutual trade exceeded $500 million. This year’s plan, as Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats has said earlier, is to increase last year's figures.