BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 12
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Latvia is interested not only in maintaining the number of flights between Latvia and Uzbekistan, but also in increasing it, source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia told Trend.
The ministry noted that Latvia sees opportunities for cooperation with Uzbekistan in several areas.
As for the field of railway transport and transit, the ministry noted the importance of cooperating in the international transportation of goods in the territories of both countries, and in the transportation of railway cargo on the Asia - Europe route by using the container train "Baltika Transit".
“It is also important for Latvia that Uzbekistan uses the logistics, production and distribution opportunities offered by Latvia for the export of Uzbek goods to Europe,” the source said.
According to the ministry, there is a very good potential to develop air cargo cooperation between Latvia and Uzbekistan.
“Air traffic with Tashkent is in high demand, so it is also important to continue air traffic between Latvia and Uzbekistan after the lockdown,” the ministry stressed.
In addition, Latvia is interested in strengthening institutional cooperation in the field of agriculture by sharing experience with the work of the authorities responsible for monitoring food production and circulation in Uzbekistan.
“There is also potential to develop cooperation in the field of veterinary services and forestry,” the source said.
Latvian MFA also noted that the current situation connected with COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism.
“Latvia is interested in promoting tourism cooperation as soon as the situation caused by the pandemic stabilizes and travel opportunities resume. We also see the potential for expanding medical tourism and business contacts,” the message says.
Furthermore, it is reported that Latvia and Uzbekistan successfully cooperate in the field of education.
It was noted that in the 2019/2020 academic year, 1,375 students from Uzbekistan studied in Latvia. In addition, Uzbekistan ranks second in terms of the number of foreign students in Latvian higher education institutions. Uzbek students are mainly interested in the following fields of study: transport and communications, banking and finance, engineering, information technology etc.
The source in the ministry said that the ongoing reforms in the education sector in Uzbekistan provide an opportunity to implement cooperation in the field of education on a wider scale.
“We are glad that Uzbek students appreciate the competencies of Latvian teaching staff and researchers, as well as the possibilities of studies and scientific infrastructure, including study programs with Uzbekistan that started at Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies in October 2020.
In addition, the Education and Information Center of Riga Technical University started operating in Tashkent in 2019.
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