Business news

30 Jul 2019

Package of cooperation agreements signed at Belarus-Uzbekistan regional forum

MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) – A package of interregional agreements on cooperation was signed at the 1st Forum of Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan on 30 July, BelTA has learned.

Agreements on cooperation in trade, economic, sci-tech and humanitarian areas were signed between Gomel Oblast and Fergana and Xorazm regions of Uzbekistan, Grodno Oblast and Samarkand and Andijan regions, Vitebsk Oblast and Namangan Region, Brest Oblast and Bukhara and Sirdaryo regions. Similar documents were signed between Mogilev and Andijan and Jizzakh regions. The Minsk Oblast Executive Committee agreed on cooperation in the social sector with Tashkent Region. The action plan for 2019-2020 was signed to implement the agreement on trade, economic, sci-tech and cultural cooperation between the Tashkent khokimiats and Minsk City Hall.

According to Deputy Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Marianna Shchetkina, a total of 26 direct agreements have been signed between the regions. Some more agreements will be signed during the meeting of the two heads of state. More than 20 contracts are in the pipeline. On 30 July, following the plenary session, Minsk Automobile Plant – Managing Holding Company of BelavtoMAZ and MAZ-TASHKENT signed a contract on the delivery of 80 vehicles.

According to Marianna Shchetkina, the forum of regions has become a historic milestone in the relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan, a new page to bring about big opportunities.

The Belarus-Uzbekistan relations have entered a qualitatively new phase across a wide range of relations, including a political dialogue, economic cooperation, cultural and humanitarian ties, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Sadiq Safaev said. “Our bilateral relations would not be full-fledged without cooperation between the parliaments. Today, parliamentary diplomacy plays almost the same role as intergovernmental relations,” he said. On 30 July, the Uzbek delegation met with Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich to discuss promising areas of inter-parliamentary dialogue. This included the improvements to the legal framework of bilateral relations, experience sharing and close control over the timely execution of the agreements reached at the meeting of the two leaders in 2018.