On June 27, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the regular meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk, Belarus, in his capacity as head of the observer state to the EAEU. The President’s press service reported the event.
The meeting, chaired by President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, was also attended by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, observer President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian (via video message), and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev. Guests included Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalid Al Nahyan, First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Nam-Osorin Uchral, and CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev.
The agenda included issues of further expanding multilateral trade and economic cooperation, supporting industrial cooperation projects, and implementing joint programs in priority areas of interaction.
In his opening remarks, the President of Uzbekistan noted that further expansion and deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation with the EAEU countries is one of the priorities of his country’s foreign economic policy.
He expressed gratitude to the member states of the Organization for their support and active participation of their delegations in the International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom. Central Asia” and the fourth Tashkent Investment Forum, which took place in Uzbekistan since the beginning of this year.
It was particularly emphasized that important agreements were reached and new directions and promising cooperation projects were identified as a result of these events.
The Head of State informed the meeting participants about the development of Uzbekistan’s multilateral cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. Thus, during the period of interaction as an observer state, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with the Union countries increased by 80 percent, reaching $18 billion last year.
In March of this year, the fourth meeting of the joint Working Group was successfully held, as a result of which measures were developed to gradually eliminate technical barriers, deepen industrial cooperation, and stimulate business initiatives.
The implementation of a new three-year Plan has begun, covering about 40 specific activities. Uzbekistan also actively participates in important EAEU initiatives, including projects and programs such as the Eurasian Agroexpress, the development of e-commerce, the digitalization of cargo transportation, and the climate agenda.
In addition, in April, the procedures for our country’s accession to the Agreement on the Establishment of the Eurasian Development Bank were completed. Together with the Bank, a promising portfolio of infrastructure modernization projects in the fields of metallurgy, textiles, chemicals and other strategic industries is being developed.
The Head of State outlined his vision of the key areas for the development of partnership with the EAEU.
The importance of creating favorable conditions for increasing mutual trade was noted. It was emphasized that Uzbekistan fully fulfills all agreements related to ensuring the operation of the free trade zone between our countries.
In this context, the need to accelerate the expert study of a number of proposals from our country aimed at simplifying procedures and bringing together the systems of technical regulation of trade operations was pointed out.
Interest was also expressed in connecting to such trade support instruments and mechanisms as the digital system of technical regulation and the ecosystem of digital transport corridors of the EAEU, and the Eurasian Reinsurance Company.
Given the intensive development of modern information technology and artificial intelligence, the prospects for multilateral cooperation in the field of digitalization were noted.
In this context, it was proposed to adopt a separate program covering areas such as e-commerce, digital labeling of goods, the creation of new-generation logistics platforms, and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in specific industries.
The possibility of Uzbekistan’s participation in a unified integrated information system of checkpoints was also indicated. This will speed up border crossings and ensure effective monitoring and transparency of all procedures.
To stimulate the development of cooperative ties, readiness was expressed to expand practical cooperation within the framework of launched programs to support small and medium-sized businesses, including jointly with the EAEU Business Council.
Uzbekistan is interested in using the financial support mechanism for industrial projects and the platform of the Eurasian Network of Industrial Cooperation and Technology Transfer.
In the field of ensuring food security, the importance of developing measures aimed at expanding opportunities for cooperation between agricultural producers was emphasized.
This concerns the implementation of the initiative to adopt the Program of Agro-cooperation of Uzbekistan with the EAEU countries, which provides for the introduction of advanced technologies, the simplification of the rules for the movement of agricultural goods, the effective functioning and expansion of the “green” corridor.
In addition, active work is underway with EAEU partners to simplify procedures and increase the mobility of labor resources. In this regard, it was proposed to hold expert consultations on the convergence of professional standards and qualification requirements in high-demand industries in the labor market.
Readiness was also expressed to connect to the integrated “Work without Borders” platform launched within the framework of the Organization.
In conclusion, the Head of State emphasized that Uzbekistan’s participation in multilateral programs and projects of the EAEU will serve to strengthen economic partnership and promote the sustainable development of our countries.