France is one of the important partners of Uzbekistan in Europe, cooperation with which is dynamically developing in many directions. There is a tendency of expanding and deepening ties in the trade and economic sphere. Key issues of interaction in this sphere are discussed at regular meetings of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The regular sixth meeting of IGC was held on July 20 at the International Business Center in Tashkent. Representatives of ministries and agencies, firms and companies of bоth countries operating in the fields of economy, trade, investment, oil and gas, banking and finance, engineering, aviation, natural resources, agriculture and water resources, geology, pharmaceutical, information technology and telecommunications participated in the meeting. Business entities of Uzbekistan and France sent their representatives to the meeting, who carry on activities in the areas of insurance, textile, chemical and food industries, construction materials, tourism.
In the course of event the sides discussed issues of further increasing mutual trade turnover, increasing the number of joint ventures and expansion of product range. They had a detailed exchange of views on the economic potential and opportunities of Uzbekistan and France. They discussed the issues of strengthening ties between the banking and financial institutions, in the development of small business and entrepreneurship in order to support cooperation between business people.
French entrepreneurs were provided with detailed information on the priority directions of attracting investments into the economy of our country, about the possibilities created in FIEZ “Navoi”, SIZ “Angren” and “Jizzakh” strategic projects, proposed for implementation in cooperation with foreign investors.
On the sidelines of the meeting the correspondent of Jahon I.A. interviewed some of the participants, who shared their plans for cooperation with Uzbekistan.
EDF Head of the Europe and Oceania Laurent Kengrik:
– We are the largest state-owned power generating company in France and the world’s largest operator of nuclear power plants. We specialize in the production and supply of electricity, the construction of power plants, production of energy-saving equipment for the industry. We also pay special attention to alternative energy sources: wind, solar and geothermal energy.
For us, Uzbekistan is of great value, as the country is rich in opportunities for the development of bоth traditional and new, innovative energy. In this context, EDF is ready to participate in the modernization of the power grids of the republic, upgrade existing equipment,
The Director of Industrial Services CIFAL Group Jean Januard reported that a group of companies provides consulting services wishing to enter global markets. Noting the growing interest of French businessmen to Uzbekistan, among the important advantages of our country the interlocutor mentioned its favorable geographical location in the heart of Central Asia, the development of production and transport and communications infrastructure, high human potential, created favorable conditions for foreign investors.
– Currently CIFAL Group has two main offices located in Paris and Dubai. Given the increasing attention to Uzbekistan, we intend to open a representative office in Tashkent, which will provide the necessary consulting and information support to French businessmen who plan to enter the Uzbek market, J.Januard said.
In turn, commercial director for CIS of Kuhn Company Victor Kondrachuknoted that Uzbekistan has great potential in the field of agriculture. Favorable climatic conditions, carefully thought-out strategy of the state in this area contribute to the dynamic development of agricultural sector.
– We will work together with Uzbek partners to set up production of agricultural machinery adapted to the conditions of Central Asia and price-reasonable for farmers, the businessman said. – We conducted necessary negotiations, outlined main stages and directions of work, agreed on the terms: they account for about five years. During this period, we plan to draw up the project documentation, coordinate the basic parameters of capacity, to build a factory and start production of agricultural machinery, which we hope would also be exported to other countries.
It should be noted that the outcome of the sixth session of the IGC signed an agreement between the governments of Uzbekistan and France on air. At the same time, JSC “Uzbekistan Temir Yollari” and Alston Transports Company signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of production of asynchronous heat engines in Uzbekistan. SC Uzfarmsanoat and French Sanofi entered into a Memorandum of Intent on producing a new generation of vaccines.