Badriddin Abidov: “United we can achieve great goals”

Speaking at the 8th Meeting of the Official Foreign Policy Research Centers of the Member and Observer States of the Organization of Turkic States, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Badriddin Abidov spoke in detail about several vital initiatives that determined the activities of Uzbekistan within this structure.

This conference is noteworthy in that it is aimed at strengthening multilateral relations between our countries, based on the bonds of strong friendship, the principles of mutual respect and support.

It is known that this organization includes modern, rapidly developing countries, endowed with a special international status and economic influence.

I am confident that this event will further strengthen political, trade, economic and transport relations between our countries, identify new areas and formats of cooperation, and reach mutually beneficial agreements.

At the same time, it should be noted that in recent years, mutual strategic relations between Uzbekistan and the countries of the Organization continue to develop progressively.

Over the past three years, the trade turnover between our countries has grown by almost 1.5 times and reached $9.4 billion by the end of 2021.

As of September 1 this year, with the participation of the capital of the member states of the Organization, 4004 enterprises were created in Uzbekistan, which is almost twice as much as the level of the previous year.

These figures are certainly good. Therefore, taking into account the potential of our countries and the creation of favorable conditions for business development, even higher indicators and results can be achieved. After all, wide opportunities are being created in Uzbekistan to support entrepreneurial activity.

For example, a unified Law “On investments and investment activities” was adopted, which guarantees the protection of foreign investments. The tax system has been improved, making Uzbekistan’s 12 percent corporate tax rate the lowest in the region today.

The reforms were also reflected in the policy of openness. A visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of 90 countries of the world. In a short period, Uzbekistan has risen from 166th place to 69th place in the Doing Business world ranking.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development raised its growth forecast for Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product last week. In particular, as noted, the country’s economy will grow by 4 percent in 2022 and by 5 percent in 2023.

This is just the beginning of the reforms. In New Uzbekistan, all necessary measures will be taken to create more favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, work in this direction will continue rapidly.

The Republic of Uzbekistan needs to bring cooperation with the countries of the Organization of Turkic States to a higher level in the political, trade, economic and transport spheres.

Therefore, the following areas are considered important in the further development of relations between our countries.

First, the priority task is the further development of trade relations between our countries.

According to preliminary estimates, as a result of the effective use of existing opportunities, the total sales volume in the coming years can be at least doubled, in particular, by the end of 2023 it can be increased to $20 billion, and in the next 5 years, it can be increased to $40 billion.

In this regard, we propose to actively introduce new forms and mechanisms to stimulate mutual trade.

It is also important to support efforts to replace imports from third countries with local products.

In this context, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward several initiatives at the Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States.

For a detailed study of the existing opportunities, it is necessary to accelerate the creation of the Center for Research on Trade Cooperation of the Turkic States, which will develop proposals for the elimination of trade barriers, the widespread introduction of e-commerce and the increase in exports and imports.

Another important task is the implementation of joint projects for the development of industrial cooperation.

Our business community is interested in creating production opportunities, while using the advantages and complementarity of our countries in the competition of economies.

In this regard, it is important to develop a common approach to the formation of a climate of mutual localization and import substitution based on the national industrial development programs.

I propose to pay special attention to the issue of harmonization and digitalization of economic sectors, the development of e-commerce between our countries, which will reduce the cost of production and ensure its competitiveness.

Based on the specialized organizations of the Member States, it is advisable to create engineering and technology centers. The activities of such structures should be aimed at creating a value chain and developing joint projects based on the principle of competitiveness.

Such projects may be financed from a joint investment fund to be established in the future. To implement this initiative and create new opportunities in this direction, we intend to hold the Turkic States Industry Week next year in Uzbekistan.

It will not be a mistake to say that the expansion of strategic cooperation in green energy will further strengthen relations between our countries.

In this regard, it is necessary to develop a joint action plan for the countries of the Organization for the construction of wind farms, the development of alternative energy sources, the digitalization of energy and scientific research.

There are many large producers, exporters and importers of agricultural and food products in our countries. However, we have not yet been able to establish serious cooperation within the framework of the OTS in food security.

The potential of our countries makes it possible to regularly supply domestic markets with grain crops, livestock, fruit and vegetable products, basic foodstuffs and necessary fertilizers. Taking this into account, it is important to contribute to the solution of this problem at the global level.

In this regard, for the development of the agricultural sector, it is necessary to develop specific measures for growing, processing, sorting and packaging vegetables and fruits in the regions, as well as ensuring food security.

The problem of climate change has a serious impact on the process of progressive development at the global and regional levels.

It must be admitted that, unfortunately, we are far behind the leading regions of the world on the issue of green development.

From this point of view, we propose to develop a joint action plan aimed at harmonizing the common goals of green development in national industrialization plans.

The drying up of the Aral Sea has a serious impact not only on Central Asia, but also on other regions.

To reduce the negative consequences of environmental disasters and prevent their spread, we took the initiative to create, in cooperation with the United Nations, a structure for the protection of the environment of the Turkic states.

It would be appropriate to place the headquarters in one of the areas of the Aral Sea region that suffered the most from this ecological catastrophe.

The great goals set before us can only be achieved through the development of cooperation, uniting the existing opportunities, the withdrawal of political, trade and economic relations between our countries to a new level.

Prepared by G. Khonnazarov,

photo by A. Abdullayev,

UzA