Uzbek Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance to QNA: Qatar Enjoys Great Prestige, HH the Amir's Visit to Uzbekistan an Opportunity to Launch New Partnership 

 

 

Tashkent, June 06 (QNA) - HE Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ilkhom Norkulov considered the State of Qatar one of his country's close friends, noting that it enjoys great prestige and influence not only in the Arab and Islamic worlds, but in the whole world.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE said that the State of Qatar has achieved great success under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as evidenced by the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha. 

He described the visit of HH the Amir as an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar in all fields, as relations are witnessing remarkable development at all levels.

He explained that according to statistics, the volume of mutual trade between the two countries amounted to 1.8 million US dollars (a 4-fold increase) from January to April of the current year, while by the end of 2022 the turnover between the two countries amounted to 4.8 million US dollars. He added that the main part of Uzbekistan’s exports consisted of food products (43.5%), services (29.4%), non-ferrous metals and products made from them (26.5%) and others, while Uzbekistan's import chemical products (50.6%), mineral fuel and electricity (48.5%) were from Qatar.

There are still unexploited opportunities in mutual trade and economic spheres between our countries, he said, adding that it should be noted that the two countries have high potential, and there is a lot of work to be done to increase the volume of trade and eliminate existing trade barriers. 

He explained that within the framework of the expected visit of HH the Amir, a business forum is expected to be held with the participation of representatives of large business circles of the two countries, which will hold discussions on the investment opportunities created in Uzbekistan. 

He stressed that the Uzbekistan-Qatar relations are promising, and there are ample opportunities for the establishment of a joint investment fund, the launch of modern production in industrial sectors with the involvement of leading companies and banking and financial institutions of Qatar, the preparation and promotion of promising projects for the deep processing of agricultural products, and the modernization of infrastructure in Uzbekistan at a quick opportunity. "In addition, we intend to carry out work to develop a joint action plan for the expansion of mutual trade and a program for the development of industrial cooperation, covering investment projects in the fields of energy, petrochemical, chemical, food industry, as well as tourism and Information Technology," he said.

He noted that Qatar is the potential economic partner of Uzbekistan in the Middle East. The visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Uzbekistan provides a favorable opportunity for a high level of consideration and further development of the current state of relations of the two countries in the political, trade and economic, investment, transport and logistics sectors, he added

He said that Qatar is one of the new markets for his country that has not yet been discovered in its foreign trade, adding that commodity trade turnover between countries amounted to only $ 4.8 million in 2022 and increased by 74.6 times compared to 2016.

He pointed to the possibilities of implementing joint investment projects in petrochemical, agricultural, food, light industry and tourism, as well as cooperation in the production of modern building materials (cement, basalt fibers, cellular concrete products).

He also stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of transport and logistics. During the visit of a delegation of Representatives of Qatar Civil Aviation and Qatar Airways to Tashkent on April 6-8, 2021, the issues of preparing for the signing of an air traffic agreement between the two state governments, as well as the launch of direct air traffic on the Doha -Tashkent -Doha route were discussed. 

He affirmed that Uzbekistan is establishing beneficial cooperation with all international partners based on mutual trust, and is working to reform the energy market, accelerate the privatization and transformation of state-owned enterprises.

The bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar has a bright future, he said, adding that the most important thing is that solid mutual trust and cooperation are formed between the two sides, and both Uzbekistan and Qatar share the continuing cooperation.

He said that the Ministry of Economy and Finance in his country prioritize cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, education, culture, cooperation in the areas of security, combating terrorism, and investment in infrastructure.

He pointed out that the experience of the economic development of Uzbekistan and Qatar will also be useful for other countries, as others can learn from the successes of these two countries and carry out similar reforms. This will help others achieve economic growth and prosperity.

Uzbekistan needs to continue reforms, diversify the economy and trade, strengthen its relations with world economic centers, he said, adding that it is crucial to strengthen regional ties, improve trade relations, as food security becomes an urgent issue in the coming years.

He explained that economic cooperation between Asian countries is a way for other countries to cooperate towards achieving common economic goals, as well as strengthening political stability and improving infrastructure. For example, the ancient Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected Asia and Europe for centuries. It was the main channel for the exchange of goods, ideas and cultures, and played an important role in the economic cooperation of the time, he said.

He explained that the "One Belt, One Road" global infrastructure project, developed at the initiative of China, is significant in that it is aimed at connecting Asia, Africa and Europe through a network of roads, railways, ports and other infrastructures.

"Taking this into account, I would say that Uzbekistan and Qatar can significantly benefit from the One Belt, One Road project. Uzbekistan is located at the contiguous intersection of Central Asia and China, and the population is also  steadily increasing. Qatar is a rich country with a lot of capital to invest in. By having close relations, Uzbekistan and Qatar have a great opportunity to develop trade and investment, improve infrastructure and create jobs," he said at the end of his statements to QNA.

He stressed that Uzbekistan and Qatar are two main countries in the regions of Central Asia  and the Middle East, and by having close relations, they can create better achievements with positive impact on the development of the regions. (QNA)