BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The UK has declared its strong commitment to further develop comprehensive cooperation with Uzbekistan and support large-scale reforms in the country, Trend reports citing Dunyo information agency.
During the 25th meeting of the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC), which took place on February 3-4 in an online format, the participants were provided with detailed information about large-scale reforms in Uzbekistan, the country's growing economic and investment potential.
The event was attended by over 400 business representatives from the two countries, including such large British companies as British Petroleum, Energy Industries Council, Rio Tinto, Worley Parsons, Petrofac, Cambridge Education Partnership, Mott MacDonald, TheCityUK, Sturgeon Capital.
Emphasizing that Uzbekistan became the first Central Asian state to sign a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the UK in October 2019, the UK expressed its readiness to conclude a new Enhanced GSP agreement, which would allow the export of Uzbek agricultural and textile products to the United Kingdom market without duties.
In addition, the UK delegation confirmed its readiness to promote Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO (World Trade Organization), the creation of the Tashkent International Financial Center, as well as the reform of the education sector.
The privatization program in Uzbekistan has also generated significant interest from British companies.
As a result of the event, a joint Action Plan for 2021 was signed, providing for the implementation of a number of bilateral projects.
Furthermore, several memorandums have been signed at the end of the meeting, including a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Nukus branch of the Tashkent State Agrarian University and Bangor University, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Medical Institute of Karakalpakstan and the University of Portsmouth, a Memorandum of cooperation between the Yeoju Technical Institute to Tashkent and the University of Strathclyde, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Agency for the Development of Presidential, Creative and Specialized Schools and a specialized organization for the implementation of educational Cambridge Assessment standards, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Uzbek State University of World Languages and Cambridge Assessment.
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