On October 16-18 this year, Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held a number of meetings and negotiations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with the heads of ministries and departments of the United Arab Emirates and Iran, Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan, as well as heads of large UAE companies.

During the talks, the current state of and the prospects for the development of trade and economic cooperation, the implementation of investment projects in the fields of green energy, transport and logistics, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, aviation and education were discussed.

In particular, during negotiations with Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, an agreement was reached on the construction of new wind, solar and hydroelectric power plants. The possibilities of attracting Emirati companies to create an interconnected logistics infrastructure, including joint storage facilities in Uzbekistan and the UAE, were considered.

The issues of preparation for the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which provides for the introduction of a free trade regime in goods and services, were discussed with Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment, emphasizing the effectiveness of the comfortable investment climate created in Uzbekistan, expressed readiness to expand bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation. Agreements have been reached on the implementation of major joint projects in the fields of agriculture and alternative energy.

In an interview with Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the progress of joint work on the analysis and development of proposals to improve the investment climate, simplify trade procedures and develop e-commerce, expand Uzbekistan's foreign economic potential, and promote the country's accession to the WTO was reviewed. The UNCTAD Secretary-General highly appreciated the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan on liberalization and introduction of market principles of economic management. Agreements were reached on the development of a single Roadmap on joint projects.

On the sidelines of the visit, a meeting was held with Ehsan Khandozi, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A number of joint projects carried out by the business circles of the two countries were considered, as well as measures to further expand practical cooperation and develop trade, economic and investment partnership.

Negotiations were also held with the heads of companies including SWS, Orascom Holdings, Homepital, Burjeel Holding, YAS Holding, Metito, IHC, Fertiglobe, Tadweer, Masdar, TAQA and AMEA Power. Practical aspects of ongoing joint projects and measures to accelerate their commissioning were discussed. Concrete steps were outlined to develop and implement new major investment initiatives in the fields of tourism, infrastructure development, healthcare, energy, chemical industry, household waste production, privatization and further development of enterprises with a state share in the authorized capital.

The results of the meetings showed a high level of interest of the UAE government and business circles in the implementation of joint projects in our country. In the near future, visits of delegations of UAE companies will be organized for the detailed preparation of project documentation and the start of work.