Minister Ivan Ivanov: There is potential for expanding and deepening economic relations with Uzbekistan

 “Uzbekistan is one of Bulgaria’s promising trade and investment partners in the Central Asia region. There is potential to expand and deepen bilateral economic relations.” This was underlined by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov at a meeting with the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov. The two discussed possible areas for expanding and deepening the cooperation and partnership between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan.

"Our meeting today is a valuable continuation of the partnership dialogue between our two countries and I accept it as an opportunity to build on our relations in a constructive spirit and with a clear view to the future," said the Bulgarian Regional Minister. He expressed strong support from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for intensifying the bilateral dialogue and strengthening the cooperation in different spheres of the economies of the two countries, as well as the development of joint investment projects. Among the areas of mutual interest that have been outlined are transport connectivity, construction and infrastructure, trade.

During the meeting was also discussed the possibility in the autumn of this year to hold the sixth session of the Bulgarian-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission, which on the Bulgarian side is chaired by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

"We support the expansion of the contractual and legal base between the two countries and believe that within the Intergovernmental Commission we could also include new areas of interaction, including regional development, where we can exchange experiences and look for opportunities for joint initiatives," Minister Ivanov stressed.

"We realized that we have wasted a lot of time and there are many opportunities for partnership between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan," Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov said during the meeting. He expressed the firm desire of the Uzbek side for even deeper trade and economic cooperation with Bulgaria and the establishment of direct contacts between Uzbek and Bulgarian companies in various branches.

Together with the regional minister, they agreed that with joint efforts they can lay the basis for a new dynamic in the cooperation between the two countries.