Uzbekistan can become a springboard for the enterprises of the Vitebsk region for deliveries to Asia

March 23, Vitebsk. In Vitebsk, at a working meeting, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Belarus discussed with the chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin the prospects for interregional cooperation in the field of industry, BelTA has learned.

As Charge d'Affaires of Uzbekistan in Belarus Rahmatulla Nazarov noted, in general, cooperation between the two countries has been developing very intensively over the past five years, and the trade turnover of both sides has grown almost seven times. There are 14 administrative-territorial units in Uzbekistan, and close ties have been established at the regional level. "The Vitebsk region has established partnership relations with the Namangan and Khorezm regions. We see that cooperation at the regional level is very effective. The northern region also has an interest in establishing friendly and partnership relations with the Kashkadarya region - the southernmost in our country. I think that in In the near future, these plans will come true, and the Vitebsk region will have one more partner in Uzbekistan," the charge d'affaires stressed.

In 2021, the foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Uzbekistan amounted to $12.6 million, including exports - $9.9 million, imports - $2.7 million. The Asian partner country purchased medicines (almost 50% of total imports), meat Cattle (14.5%), milk powder , whey powder, butter, cheese (4.1%), polyethylene (3.2%), as well as plastic products, fiberglass, fiber optic cable, MDF boards and etc. The Vitebsk region received Uzbek cotton yarn and fabrics (more than 50% of total imports), fruits, vegetables, and dried fruits.

"Our economies do not compete, they complement each other. We grow cotton, which we plan to supply at a favorable price for us and Belarus. Negotiations are now underway between Bellegprom and Uzbektekstilprom on industrial cooperation and the creation of joint Uzbek-Belarusian Also in our republic, the joint venture of the leather and footwear holding "Marko" has confidently started. In general, Uzbekistan, with its 35 million population, is already a profitable market for enterprises in the Vitebsk region. But in addition, our country can become a good platform for the supply of Belarusian products to Central Asia, where more than 70 million people live, I think that Marko found both the time and the place to realize his potential very well.That is why we are interested in cooperation in the field of industry with the Vitebsk region," said Rakhmatulla Nazarov.

Since 2020, the Vitebsk region has been negotiating the opening in Uzbekistan of a joint venture with BelVitunifarm OJSC, which at the initial stage will trade drugs with a subsequent entry into their production. The issues of financing the project are being worked out in order to reach the sale of medicines in the amount of $2 million per year. In December 2021, a representative office of a Belarusian manufacturer of veterinary drugs was opened in Tashkent. A call center is being created that will consult specialists of agricultural organizations on the use of these drugs, including within the framework of treatment and prevention schemes. It is planned that highly qualified veterinarians will not only provide consultations by phone, but also go directly to agricultural producers.

For the economy of the Vitebsk region, interregional cooperation with Uzbekistan may expand in the future and be mutually beneficial. "The Uzbek delegation quickly responded to a direct dialogue with the leadership of the region. First of all, we need to understand what rules our enterprises will work under, at least using the example of Marko in Uzbekistan. If we get a positive experience, then it will be possible to offer this market and " Belwest". Of course, business entities will make their own decisions, but we must see for ourselves the whole scheme of relationships from settlements to the organization of production. The second issue for discussion is the replacement of fruit and vegetable products that we traditionally purchased in European countries: consider the assortment, quality and take into account the price factor.The third point of negotiations concerns meat and dairy products. It is important for us that we have enough of the volume requested by Uzbekistan, and we can also offer them participation, including financial participation, in the production of such products. Another set of issues will affect the industrial sector. The industry in Uzbekistan is developing dynamically, there are mechanical engineering, energy, chemical and gas industries. The Vitebsk region has all the competencies in these industries, and we can offer our experience to Uzbek enterprises, train their specialists, and then enter the general technological order that they demand. In Uzbekistan, they immediately provide benefits for new production, similar to free economic zones, and they do not have a territorial link, which is very convenient,"

Photo by Alexander Khitrov