BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Moscow-based Lithuanian Ambassador Eitvydas Bajarūnas is planning his visit to Uzbekistan in the coming weeks and one of the main points of interest will be the economic and trade agenda, the Embassy of Lithuania in Russia and in Uzbekistan told Trend.
According to the embassy, Lithuania and Uzbekistan have multiple bilateral agreements, including Investment Protection, Double Taxation Avoidance, Economic-Trade Cooperation as well as Cooperation in Tourism sector agreements. There is an established Lithuanian-Uzbek Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.
“Every year we have political consultations on the level of Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs where we discuss not just political issues, but our economic relations as well. Our Parliaments have regular contacts on the level of Lithuanian-Uzbek Friendship Group,” the embassy said.
It is reported that Ambassador Eitvydas Bajarūnas, who Moscow-based Lithuanian Ambassador accredited to Uzbekistan, is planning his visit to Uzbekistan within the coming weeks and one of the main points of interest will be the economic and trade agenda.
Also, the embassy noted that business missions are also regularly organized. Thus, in 2018, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has visited Uzbekistan with a large team of Lithuanian business captains. In September 2019 Vice-Minister of Transport of Lithuania has visited Tashkent with numerous representatives of Lithuanian transportation logistics, railways and seaport companies.
Later, in November 2019 Ambassador with Embassy Commercial Attaché brought a business mission of Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, universities and different companies to discuss the possible development of economic cooperation in various fields.
“In 2020, due to the pandemic, physical business missions were postponed. However, we are planning yet another large-scale mission later this year. Worth mentioning, that Vilnius and Tashkent Chambers of Commerce have well-established formats of cooperation and are regularly organizing meetings, including – online,” the embassy stressed.
In addition, in summer 2019 Lithuania has opened its Visa Center in Tashkent. This was done after the business community has indicated the need to facilitate the visa issuing process for Uzbek partners, for example, companies’ directors, managers, investors, truck drivers, who now can get a visa appointment within one or two days.
“Secondly, in order to boost our economic ties, we need to have a physical representation in Tashkent, and we are glad that the Honorary Consulate of Lithuania in Uzbekistan has opened its doors this year. One of the priorities of the Honorary Consul Farukh Kadirbekov is to strengthen economics and trade relations between Lithuania and Uzbekistan,” the embassy said.
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