DUSHANBE, 21.09.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – Tajik and Uzbek entrepreneurs held a B2B meeting in Dushanbe on September 18.

Forty Uzbek entrepreneurs visited Tajikistan as part of a working group of Uzbekistan led by First Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Laziz Kudratov in order to prepare for the upcoming seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Also, negotiations were held between the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Tajikistan Jamshed Jumakhonzoda and a Uzbek delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the CCI Farizshoh Usmanov, heads of the territorial departments of the CCI of Tashkent, Bukhara, Namangan, Fergana, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions.

Jumakhonzoda invited the Uzbek delegation to work out the issues relating to the creating joint ventures in priority sectors of Tajikistan, using local raw materials and considering the benefits and preferences provided for in the free economic zones of Tajikistan.

It was especially noted the importance of enhancing business contacts between entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during the global economic crisis caused by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, it was also noted the importance of creating joint projects with the participation of entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan.

Usmanov expressed interest of Uzbek entrepreneurs in the development of bilateral business cooperation with private business in Tajikistan.

During the talks, the parties discussed the possibilities of expanding interregional cooperation between the territorial divisions of the CCIs of the two countries. In particular, an agreement was reached to conclude an agreement on cooperation between the regional CCIs of the border regions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for the further development of business ties between the regions of the two countries.

The meeting also focused on the issue of preparing and holding a business forum, as well as organizing a meeting of the Business Council of Entrepreneurs during the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan on September 29.

Following negotiations, on the same day, the official opening of the exchange of contacts between entrepreneurs of the two countries took place, where Jumakhonzoda and Usmanov delivered speech.

The business meeting was attended by representatives of the business community of Uzbekistan, consisting of more than 40 companies and entrepreneurs, as well as about 110 private sector entities from Khatlon, Sughd regions, RRS, representatives of ministries and departments of Tajikistan. The total number of participants in the contact exchange was 150 participants from both sides.

The opportunities of free economic zones of Tajikistan were also presented to Uzbek entrepreneurs.

The food, textile, chemical, agricultural, leather and footwear, electrical and tourism sectors were identified as priority areas for cooperation.

Following the results of the B2B meeting, representatives of the business community of Uzbekistan discussed the signing of trade contracts with Tajik entrepreneurs for the supply of domestic products to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.