The ECO high-level delegation, headed by H.E. Mr. Halil Ibrahim Akca, ECO Secretary General, paid a visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan upon the invitation of the Uzbek Government to discuss to develop the roles of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the ECO framework on several fronts, on 20-23 June 2018.
In his receiving the ECO delegation, The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, expressed his satisfaction with the opening of a new page for cooperation with ECO, and highlighted the importance of further intensifying cooperation in various sectors of economy, notably trade, transport, energy and tourism.
During the meetings with the Foreign Minister and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade, the ECO delegation indicated the importance of ratification of the Treaty of Izmir by Uzbekistan and emphasized the benefits of accession of Uzbekistan to ECOTA and TTFA, the main legal instruments of ECO, to lay the basis for closer and practical multilateral cooperation in trade and transit transport.
In the meeting with the sectoral agencies and companies, the ECO delegation was introduced with the measures that the Uzbekistan Government has been taking regarding the rehabilitation of existing and construction of new motor roads, construction of railway lines for the shortest and cost effective rail connections to open seas as well as opening up of high-speed train connections between the capital and historical cities (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shahrizabs, and Kokand etc.) known worldwide. The delegation has been also briefed on the projects to intensify interaction with neighboring countries, particularly, related to the electricity market and restoration and upgradation of existing and opening up of new border crossing points at borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. The Uzbek authorities also informed the delegation that the further development of the tourism sector is among the top priorities of the country and in this regard the Mid-term Strategy for Development of Tourism has been adopted and measures have been taken to ease visa regime for tourists as well as to attract potential investors to boost tourism industry.
The meetings have also provided the opportunity with the ECO delegation to brief Uzbek side with the ongoing ECO projects/initiatives in the sectors of trade, transport, energy and tourism and technical features and benefits of TTFA and ECOTA. The delegation also introduced the membership benefits of joining to ECO’s specialized institutions/bodies, notably ECOTDB, ECOCI, ECOSF, ECO Educational Institute, among others.
Uzbek side was also invited to be actively involved in ECO meetings at ministerial/expert level and contribute to its agendas via sharing their expertise for the betterment of the Organization.
The delegation has been also received by the Deputy Governor of Bukhara Region in charge of tourism during their visit to the city of Bukhara where both sides exchanged views on increasing closer connections with ECO Member States in the field of tourism taking into consideration the huge tourism potential of Uzbekistan.
