site.btaUzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade to Visit Bulgaria July 13–14

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov will pay an official visit to Bulgaria on July 13 and 14. During his visit, meetings are scheduled at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other Bulgarian institutions, the Trade and Economic Affairs Office (TEAO) in Uzbekistan under Bulgaria's Economy and Industry Ministry said on Friday.

Uzbekistan sees Bulgaria as a valuable source of technologies and a partner in engineering and technological consultancy. Both countries plan to deepen cooperation through experience-sharing, technical assistance, and the establishment of production capacities by Bulgarian companies in Uzbekistan, particularly in the fields of energy, chemicals, electrical engineering, construction, agriculture, food and beverage production, transport, and logistics.

Bulgaria could become a successful exporter to Uzbekistan of goods and services considered a priority by the country, such as farming equipment and products, food processing machinery, winemaking equipment, as well as pharmaceutical products.

There is also strong potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism.

Logistical challenges in Central Asia continue to affect Bulgarian exports to the region. In this context, the planned increase in freight transport from Uzbekistan to EU countries via Bulgaria along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is expected to significantly enhance Bulgaria’s role in global supply chains.

Bulgaria could also benefit from attracting a significant labour force from Uzbekistan.

The potential for further expansion of economic cooperation is extensive, and Uzbekistan is interested in technical assistance from Bulgarian partners to expand its export capabilities.

In the medium term, Uzbekistan is expected to become the most economically and politically significant country in the region, which is also strategically important for Bulgaria in terms of transport and logistics, the TEAO in Uzbekistan noted.

According to Bulgaria’s trade office in Tashkent, the foreign trade balance between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan has shown a consistent surplus for Bulgaria in recent years. To facilitate trade and investment, concrete steps have been taken to organize the 6th session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation in October or November in Tashkent.