site.btaBulgaria's President Confers with Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev conferred with Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, here on Sunday. The discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and facilitating experience-sharing in the fields of economy, energy, transport, high technologies and artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, mining, and security.

Minister Kudratov's visit follows President Radev's official visit to Uzbekistan in June, during which he and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a joint statement on strengthening bilateral cooperation and adopted a roadmap for its development.

Radev and Kudratov stressed the importance of deepening the dialogue between the two countries’ executive authorities and strengthening business ties aimed at launching projects of mutual interest. Kudratov expressed Uzbekistan's interest in attracting Bulgarian pharmaceutical and automotive companies, as well as boosting collaboration in the mining sector. Steve Powell, Managing Director of SinoPowell Capital LLC & STeVO Energy LLC, also participated in the meeting.

Emphasis was laid on the expansion of cooperation as part of the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. The sides agreed that the growing volume of cargo traffic between China and Europe necessitates modernizing and expanding transport, energy, and digital infrastructure. In this regard, Radev highlighted the potential of the ports of Varna and Burgas to participate more actively in the evolving supply chains, the Press Secretariat said.

The head of State also stressed the importance of the infrastructure connecting Bulgaria and Turkiye, including the expansion of the railway network and the increasing capacity to transport goods to the EU. Radev noted that beyond transport infrastructure, aligning regulatory procedures among participating countries and the European Union is vital to reducing delivery times.

The sides also discussed opportunities for this country to develop as part of the corridors transmitting renewable electricity from Central Asia to Europe. They also explored the potential for building pumped hydroelectric energy storage capacities.

Kudratov is on an official visit to Bulgaria on July 13 and 14. He is scheduled to hold meetings at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others.