site.btaDeputy Economy Minister Lazarova Confers with Uzbekistan Minister of Industry and Trade

Trade between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan increased by 12% in 2024 compared to the previous year, but both countries still have significant untapped potential for economic cooperation. This was highlighted during a meeting between Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nevena Lazarova and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria, the Economy Ministry said on Monday.

“Bulgaria and Uzbekistan have established strong external economic relations based on traditional partnership and a shared ambition for comprehensive, long-term, and mutually beneficial cooperation,” said Deputy Minister Lazarova. She emphasized that bilateral cooperation could be further advanced in sectors such as digitalization, environmental protection, energy, infrastructure, and the food industry, among others.

The talks also identified opportunities for joint ventures, business cooperation, and collaborative initiatives in strategic areas. “We are ready to work towards encouraging participation of companies from both countries in specialized trade fairs and in organizing business-to-business meetings,” Lazarova added.

Minister Kudratov underscored Uzbekistan’s efforts to attract foreign investors, noting that businesses from both countries could successfully cooperate in fields like the defense industry, infrastructure, road construction, transport logistics, and industrial zone partnerships.

The two sides also discussed organizing a business forum and preparing for the next session of an intergovernmental Bulgaria-Uzbekistan Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, scheduled for October.

In conclusion, Deputy Minister Lazarova reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting joint investment projects. “Investors can rely on support both from the Ministry and from the National Company Industrial Zones,” she noted.