On October 24 this year, Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, took part in a meeting of Central Asian ministers on regional integration under the auspices of the regional diplomatic platform "C5+1".

The event was also attended by Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chingiz Makeshov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ahliddin Nuriddinzoda, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, Kerimberdi Kurbanov, Deputy Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs, representatives of USAID, ministries and departments of Central Asian countries.

Addressing the participants of the meeting with a welcoming speech, Laziz Kudratov stressed the importance of strengthening and developing economic cooperation between the countries of the region through joint development of comprehensive measures to ensure food security, sustainability of product supply chains and combating climate change.

In this context, the importance of continuing work on the implementation of the agreements reached during the historic meeting of the heads of state of the region within the framework of the C5+1 platform in New York in September this year was noted.

The significant strengthening of relations between the Central Asian states in the last few years was emphasized, thanks to which it was possible to achieve a breakthrough growth of indicators in the socio-economic area.

In particular, the total foreign trade turnover of the countries of the region in 2022 almost doubled compared to 2017 and amounted to $220 billion, and the volume of mutual investments increased 5.6 times. The aggregate GDP of the Central Asian countries has grown by 40% over the past five years and by the end of 2022 exceeded $406 billion.

It was emphasized that the results achieved are only an intermediate stage on the way to implementing measures to fully utilize the potential of trade and economic cooperation between the countries of the region.

Within the framework of the meeting, panel sessions were held on the development of common positions on developing digital and "green" economy, improving the investment climate and creating favorable conditions for doing business, developing labor resources, and improving food security in the region.

Special attention was paid to the expansion of intraregional trade and diversification of transport corridors, improving energy integration and measures to combat climate change by increasing the production of clean energy.

A press conference was held by USAID Administrator Samantha Power, during which representatives of domestic and foreign mass media were informed about the organization's projects to ensure the accelerated implementation of joint initiatives in the fields of trade, energy and environmental protection.

As a result of the event, a joint statement was adopted and a ceremony of signing Memoranda of Understanding on decarbonization and digitalization of customs procedures between the countries of the region and USAID was held.