Denis Manturov attends meeting of Council of Regions of Russia and Uzbekistan
Key issues of inter-region cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan were discussed at Patriot Park on 22 October. The Russian
delegation, led by First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov,
included the heads of 12 regions. The Uzbek delegation, headed by Deputy Prime
Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev, represented all the regions
of Uzbekistan.
While opening the plenary session of the Council, Denis Manturov read a welcoming address from President of Russia Vladimir Putin to the participants, organisers, and guests of the event. The address stated, in particular:
“Relations between our countries are developing dynamically in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance. Regional cooperation has traditionally been an important part of our relations and continues to be actively supported at multiple levels: more than forty interregional agreements are currently in force, creating conditions for the implementation of joint economic, social, and humanitarian initiatives, including the establishment of industrial parks and technology centres, as well as the organisation of exhibitions and presentations.
The Council of Regions provides an excellent platform for direct dialogue with heads of central and local authorities, business leaders, experts, scientists, and representatives of universities and public organisations. The agenda of this meeting includes pressing issues of cooperation in industry and agriculture, energy and e-commerce, transport and logistics, culture, and education.”
Denis Manturov, in turn, noted that almost all Russian regions were already engaged in trade and economic cooperation with their Uzbek counterparts.
“It is important to translate the agreements reached into roadmaps, plan specific actions, and set clear deadlines for their implementation,” the First Deputy Prime Minister emphasised. He highlighted the practical work being undertaken by several Russian regions to establish new, and expand existing, trade houses and wholesale distribution centres.
“E-commerce platforms are increasingly playing a key role in promoting national goods. Russian marketplaces, such as Ozon and Wildberries, are expanding their physical presence in Uzbekistan. They are opening collection points and developing infrastructure for sorting and logistics centres,” Denis Manturov added.
Comprehensive efforts at both the national and regional levels, combined with proactive business initiatives, are delivering tangible results.
“Since 2019, trade between Russia and Uzbekistan has more than doubled, approaching one trillion roubles. This year, we are recording a further seven percent growth,” Denis Manturov said.
Both countries’ enterprises are advancing joint industrial projects. Among the key initiatives of the past two years, Denis Manturov highlighted the launch of chemical crop protection production in the Samarkand Region and fibreglass manufacturing in Nukus.
In order to expand the number of such projects, particular attention is being paid to developing mechanisms that support cooperation. A key element of this work is the Russian–Uzbek investment platform, established by the decision of the heads of state. A list of promising projects has already been prepared, with the first ones expected to receive funding in the near future.
Denis Maturov named interaction in transport, energy and technical regulation among other priorities in the joint work. He underscored the special importance of developing humanitarian ties and expanding tourist exchanges.
Jamshid Khodjaev began his remarks with reading out the greetings from President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The President’s greetings read, in part: “The mechanism of interaction between the regions created seven years ago has proven its efficiency and practical relevance. In view of this, it was decided to transform the forum into the Council of Regions, which held its first meeting during the state visit by the President of Russia to Uzbekistan last year.” Shavkat Mirziyoyev called the participation of Russian and Uzbek regional heads, as well as representatives of the business communities from both countries, a vivid confirmation of the regions’ growing role in enhancing beneficial cooperation. “I will emphasise that the regions are playing a key role in attaining our strategic goals and should become drivers of our practical cooperation,” read the greetings by the President of Uzbekistan.
“The relations of an all-round strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia are based on ties of many years and abound with memorable historic events. In the conditions of geopolitical instability and global economic challenges, the key to solving a number of strategic problems facing our countries is just in the regions that are becoming a real driving force of our countries’ development. I am sure that the forum will open a new horizon of interaction and launch joint projects intended to provide a sustainable economic development of the regions and to raise the standard of living and wellbeing for the citizens of Uzbekistan and Russia,” pointed out Jamshid Khodjaev.
Governors of the Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Omsk and Tomsk regions, heads of the Tashkent, Bukhara, Surxondaryo regions, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, leaders of the Russian-Uzbek Business Council and the Chamber of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan spoke at the plenary meeting.
At the end of the meeting, a ceremony of exchanging signed documents took place in the presence of the deputy prime ministers of both countries. In total, more than 30 agreements were signed between the regions of Russia and Uzbekistan on cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, social, humanitarian, cultural and other areas.
