TASHKENT, December 9. /“Dunyo” IA/. On December 7, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, Sardor Umurzakov, has taken part in an Online Economic Forum “EU – Central Asia Dialogue on Partnership for Prosperity”, reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.
According to the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, the event was organized by the EU Special Representative for Central Asia. The virtual Forum brought together high-level representatives of the European Commission, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of Trade and Economy of the Central Asian countries, and almost 200 government and private sector representatives of bоth the EU and Central Asia.
The virtual meeting served to launch a high-level dialogue between the EU and Central Asian countries, setting initial steps and priorities in preparation for the first in-person Economic Forum “EU – Central Asia Economic Forum”, which will be held next year.
The Economic Forum is envisaged to establish a new platform for jointly shaping a green sustainable recovery from the coronavirus crisis and strengthening connectivity and the legal convergence of the common economic space between the EU and the Central Asian countries, thus supporting the implementation of the EU Strategy on Central Asia.
At the forum, the current state and prospects for further strengthening multilateral cooperation in trade, economic, investment, transport and logistics spheres, as well as measures taken by the governments of countries aimed at mitigating the economic consequences associated with the pandemic, were discussed.
Partners of Uzbekistan were informed about the initiative on the adoption, under the auspices of the United Nations, the International Code of Voluntary Commitments of States during Pandemic Times.
The European side welcomed the progress made by Uzbekistan in joining the World Trade Organization, obtaining the status of a beneficiary country of the Generalized System of Preferences “GSP+”, as well as agreeing on the draft Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union.
During the dialogue, high-level participants stressed the importance of innovative economic policies and approaches, as well as stronger bilateral and regional partnerships, in order to bring prosperity for all citizens across the region and beyond, including in neighboring countries.
