Uzbekistan is all set to host a two-day high-level meeting “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” in the capital city of Tashkent on July 15 and 16 to discuss the ‘challenges and opportunities in Uzbekistan’ at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The forum is aimed at strengthening historically close and friendly ties, trust and good-neighborliness between Central and South Asia in the interests of all peoples and countries of both regions. Our Editor-in-Chief Egor Sharay tells more. 

“Uzbekistan does not have direct land route with the Arabian Gulf countries, which hinders growth of trade and investment between us. Getting access to Pakistani ports will allow Uzbek goods to directly reach main ports in the Arabian Gulf, especially in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah,” said Bakhtiyor Ibragimov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE.

He added that such a connectivity will help improve competitiveness of Uzbek export goods, as the production cost would go down with the cheaper transportation costs.

The conference will be attended by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, foreign ministers and high representatives of the Central and South Asian countries, other foreign states, heads of authoritative international and regional organizations, global financial institutions and companies, leading research and analytical centers.

During the plenary and breakout sessions, the forum participants will discuss the possibilities of promoting initiatives aimed at developing trade, economic, transport, communication, cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the context of further deepening regional connectivity.

The agenda includes a comprehensive exchange of views and joint development of proposals for enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, transport, energy and innovation, green technologies, implementation of specific projects and cooperation programs, enhancing interaction in tourism, education, healthcare, science and culture, ensuring the stability and security of the two regions.

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