05.06.2024 Ankara
Türkiye-Uzbekistan Business Forum was held at TOBB Twin Towers with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Dovran Vakhabov, Board Member of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Reha Denemeç.
In his speech here,
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Uzbekistan is the land where
Turkic culture and science developed, and that scientists who enlightened the
world from Biruni to Ali Kuşçu were raised in Uzbekistan.
Stating that the legacy
left by scientists continues to enlighten not only Uzbekistan but also
Anatolia, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that Uzbekistan and Türkiye are “two
states, one nation”.
- “The chamber system must be strengthened”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they are happy with the development of relations between the two countries
after the election of Uzbek President Şevket Mirziyoyev and said:
“Good relations at the
leadership level are directly reflected in business relations. The economic
reforms carried out in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev
make Uzbekistan attractive for investment. I know that entrepreneurship and the
private sector play an important role in the reforms. In this respect,
strengthening the chamber system will make a significant contribution to the
deepening and implementation of reforms. Improving the service capacity of the
chamber system in Uzbekistan is possible with strong and sustainable sources of
income.”
Pointing out that one
of the important areas of the reform process is to increase competitiveness and
create a favorable environment for exports, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the
necessary support, including training, should be provided by the chamber system
to companies that want to export.
Hisarcıklıoğlu, noting
that Uzbekistan's economy has doubled in the last 7 years, “Türkiye-Uzbekistan
relations continue to develop. We are happy that the preferential trade
agreement will be implemented as of July 1, 2023. The business volume of our
contractors has more than doubled in the last 5 years. Our investments also
continue to increase. We need to do more mutual trade and investment. For this,
we will continue to attach importance to platforms that will bring our members
together.”
Stating that they
brought together Uzbekistan delegations operating in the textile,
leather-footwear, furniture, jewelry, glass, construction materials, pharmacy
and health sectors with manufacturers and sector representatives in Türkiye in
the first quarter of this year, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this cooperation will
continue.
- Vice President Yılmaz
Vice President Cevdet
Yılmaz said that special sessions will be held in the fields of public-private
cooperation projects, inter-regional cooperation, privatization, industry,
geology, mining, and joint investments will be discussed at the forum, thus
aiming to deepen the cooperation between the two countries.
Noting that the trade
contacts between the two countries have developed rapidly in recent years and
the cooperation based on brotherhood has become more visible, Yılmaz said that
they are working decisively to reach the 5 billion dollar trade volume target
set by the Presidents of the two countries.
Emphasizing that this
goal is no longer far away, Yılmaz said that tomorrow, President Erdoğan and
Uzbek President Mirziyoyev may announce new goals.
Vice President Yılmaz
stated that there are investment opportunities for business people in
Uzbekistan in many fields such as energy, electronics and agriculture, and that
Türkiye has access to Central Asia and European markets thanks to its developed
infrastructure and strategic location.
Yılmaz pointed out that
Türkiye's experience in the energy sector and the importance attached to
renewable energy projects also create a sustainable investment environment for
clean energy investments.
- Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov
Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov said that
within the framework of the forum, which has become a tradition in recent
years, Turkish and Uzbek business people have opened the door to new
collaborations.
Pointing out that the
volume of trade between Uzbekistan and Türkiye has increased by about 2 times
in the last five years, Kuchkarov noted that Turkish companies have shown
interest in investment opportunities in Uzbekistan and the number of Uzbek
businesses trading with Türkiye has increased.
Kuchkarov drew
attention to the Preferential Trade Agreement signed between Türkiye and
Uzbekistan and stated that negotiations are ongoing to expand the scope of the
agreement. Kuchkarov underlined that they aim to increase the bilateral trade
volume to 5 billion dollars.
Explaining that consultations
were held in 6 sectors within the scope of the forum, Kuchkarov emphasized the
importance of expanding cooperation areas.
Kuchkarov invited
Turkish investors to participate in regional projects in his country, saying
Uzbekistan offers opportunities for investors. Noting that there may be legal
regulations regarding investments in his country, Kuchkarov stated that tax
payments in Uzbekistan are favorable.
Kuchkarov noted that
macroeconomic growth continues in Uzbekistan and said inflation is about 9
percent. Pointing to cooperation opportunities in sectors such as mining,
logistics, health, education and natural gas, Kuchkarov said they want to
establish an Uzbek-Turkish industrial zone.
- Historical and cultural relations
President of the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Dovran Vakhabov also expressed
his hope that the forum will further develop relations between business people.
Drawing attention to
the historical and cultural relations between Uzbekistan and Türkiye, Vakhabov
emphasized that the Historical Silk Road serves as a bridge of friendship
between the countries.
Noting that Türkiye is
one of the important trade partners of Uzbekistan, Vakhabov said that projects
are carried out in various sectors.
- “Reciprocal flights between Türkiye and Uzbekistan should
be increased”
DEIK Board Member
Denemeç stated that there is a trade volume of 3 billion dollars between
Türkiye and Uzbekistan and emphasized the importance of increasing bilateral
trade.
Referring to the steps
to be taken to improve economic cooperation between the two countries, Denemeç
said: “Thanks to the preferential trade agreement in force, I believe that we
will achieve our trade volume target in a short time. We believe that in order
to improve the commercial and economic cooperation between our countries, to
strengthen our social ties by bringing our brotherly peoples closer, we believe
that it is necessary to increase the number of mutual flights, and new airline
companies that want to organize flights between Türkiye and Uzbekistan should
enter the system.”
After the speeches,
representatives of Turkish and Uzbek companies from various sectors came to the
stage and presented the 15 cooperation agreements they signed with each other.