Uzbekistan, Tashkent, August 2 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan has great potential for rapid development and a modern infrastructure promoting the effective use of this potential. The U.S intends to cooperate with Uzbekistan in the further economic development, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan George Krol told media.
"After gaining independence, Uzbekistan has achieved great success," he said. "The special attention was paid to social and economic development. This factor serves to provide stability and development in Uzbekistan over the years."
Krol said that President Obama's administration considers the development of economic cooperation with Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, as a priority issue. This helps to create conditions to further improve the business climate for Uzbek and U.S companies and to expand investments.
He recalled that mutually beneficial agreements were reached at a business forum of Uzbek and the U.S business circles in February to further strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries. The representatives of U.S. big companies, such as "Boeing", "Case New Holland", "ExxonMobil", "FMN Logistics", "General Electric", "Honeywell", "General Motors", "Microsoft", known for their advanced technologies, systems, customer services and high quality products attended the forum.
"The U.S. is convinced that an open market, strong financial and legal systems, stimulating entrepreneurship are important factors in long-term development and prosperity," the ambassador said.
Krol also recalled that the U.S and Uzbekistan actively cooperate in the field of education and many other fields, including the protection of human rights, regional security.
"Your country always played an important role in ensuring regional stability, security and development," he said. "Both Uzbekistan and the U.S are interested in stable and peaceful development of Central Asia."
The ambassador stressed the important role of Uzbekistan in establishing international efforts to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan, the socio-economic restoration of the country.
He said that Uzbekistan's active assistance in supplying electricity to Afghanistan, the implementation of infrastructure projects deserve attention.
The diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and the U.S were established in 1992. More than 50 documents, in particular, the declaration on the principles of the strategic partnership and cooperation signed in 2002 form the legal basis for cooperation between the two countries.
According to the official statistics, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $181 million in 2010. About 243 joint ventures, established in cooperation with U.S. investors, operate in Uzbekistan. About 63 U.S representative offices and companies specializing in the automotive, petrochemical, textile and food industries, construction materials, tourism, commerce and service delivery have been opened.