Good Opportunities for Developing Iran-Uzbekistan Trade Exchanges
TEHRAN (Iran News) Sammad Hassanzadeh, emphasizing the need to strengthen economic relations between Iran and Uzbekistan, said: “We have experience in Iran with free and special economic zones, which can provide an easy path for foreign investors, especially from Uzbekistan.”
He continued: “Iran’s strong capacities in the fields of engineering services, petrochemicals, and the construction of power plants, roads, bridges, and buildings provide a good opportunity for economic cooperation with Uzbekistan.”
Hassanzadeh, stating that economic relations with Uzbekistan are not ideal, said: “In the food industry, we export $2 billion annually, and in agricultural equipment, especially tractors, we also have good capacities to meet the needs of other countries.”
The President of the Iran Chamber referred to Uzbekistan’s need for cooperation in engineering services, stating: “High-quality Iranian companies have exported $4 billion worth of engineering services through power plant construction and road building projects in Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. Additionally, we have strong capabilities in urban infrastructure and waste management, and in this regard, greater connections between the municipalities of Tehran and Tashkent could be beneficial.”
Hassanzadeh also described cooperation in the restoration of historical and ancient monuments as a good opportunity for expanding collaborations and said: “Iran is ready to cooperate with Uzbekistan and the Tashkent municipality in all these areas.”
He invited the mayor of Tashkent to visit Iran to attend economic exhibitions and view Iran’s technical, engineering, and urban development capabilities. He said: “There is significant potential for cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan. For example, in the textile industry, we have good capacities, and considering Uzbekistan’s resources for cotton and thread production, collaboration in this area can be strengthened.”
He asked Uzbek officials to provide information on large projects in Uzbekistan to the Iran Chamber so that top Iranian companies can be introduced to Uzbekistan and facilitate connections between companies from both countries.
Shavkat Umurzakayev, the mayor of Tashkent, also thanked the President of Iran’s Chamber and his delegation for their visit to Uzbekistan. He said: “The groundwork for cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tashkent has been prepared, and the path for developing relations is open.”
He continued: “The Iran-Uzbekistan business forum in Tashkent and Khwarezm provides new opportunities to explore and determine solutions for enhancing relations between the two countries. Since the President of Uzbekistan has issued a new directive for foreign trade, new steps can be taken to cooperate with Iranian traders.”
The mayor of Tashkent stated: “Today, significant achievements have been made in various fields, and Uzbekistan believes there are good opportunities for cooperation with foreign investors and traders that have not yet been utilized.”
Umurzakayev noted that Uzbekistan is the most industrialized country in Central Asia and has the highest trend of industrialization, saying: “Conditions are favorable for economic activities by traders in Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan can be a gateway for countries, including Iran, into the region.”
Referring to the fact that trade between Iran and Tashkent, Uzbekistan in the past eight months has only amounted to $100 million, he added: “This is a small figure. Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product is $100 billion, and given the strong capabilities in Iran, bilateral exchanges should increase.”
