24th annual session of UBTIC took place in Tashkent
Baroness Emma Nicholson visited Tashkent to co-chair the 24th annual session of the Uzbek -British Trade and Industry Council.
Baroness Nicholson visited Uzbekistan on 27 February – 1 March to co-chair the 24th session of the Uzbek -British Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC), which was established by the governments of the UK and Uzbekistan in 1994. UBTIC is an annual forum to discuss opportunities to promote and increase bilateral trade and investment.
This year over 60 UK companies represented by over 100 business men and women participated at the event, the largest number ever. Seven Memorandums of Understanding were signed between Uzbek and UK parties on cooperation in various spheres including education, healthcare, agriculture, etc.
During her visit, Baroness Nicholson met high-level Uzbek officials including the Deputy Prime Minister H.E Mr Elyor Ganiev, the Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade H.E Mr Sardor Umurzakov, the Chairman of Trade and Industry of Uzbekistan Mr Adkham Ikramov and the Executive Director for Fund of Reconstruction and Development Mr Shukhrat Vafaev to further strengthen the relationship between the UK and Uzbekistan and discuss areas of continued co-operation.
Summing up the results of the visit to Uzbekistan, Baroness Nicholson said:
I am delighted to see the positive changes that have been made by the Uzbek government. My very useful conversations with a range of Uzbek Ministers and officials have reflected the Uzbek government’s determination to further develop their economy by attracting overseas investors of the highest calibre, in an impressive range of sectors. As the co-chair of UBTIC, I look forward to working with partners both from UK and Uzbekistan to encourage more British companies to investigate the Uzbek market and see for themselves the opportunities which are opening up.
Further information
UBTIC is a trade promotion body which:
- supports and assists UK businesses currently operating in Uzbekistan, or wishing to invest in the country
- offers an annual forum for promoting the development of trade and investment relations between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom
- alternates between Tashkent and London
- is chaired jointly by representatives of UK and Uzbekistan