Qatar, Uzbekistan...promising prospects to boost relations

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Qatar comes to develop bilateral relations and move them to comprehensive and broad strategic partnerships in various fields.His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will discuss with the Uzbek president at the Amiri Diwan bilateral relations and ways to support and enhance them in various sectors, and to sign a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding, as well as discussing a number of current regional and international issues of common interest.President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Doha comes about four months after the Amir made a state visit to Uzbekistan in June, as part of his tour of a number of Central Asian countries, which confirms the desire and keenness of the two countries’ leaderships to advance bilateral relations towards new and promising horizons, especially in the economic and trade fields, and ambitious investment partnerships that serve the interests of the two countries and their friendly peoples.During his visit to Uzbekistan, the Amir held a session of official talks with the president in Samarkand, during which they discussed the existing friendship and bilateral relations and means of enhancing and developing them in various fields. They also discussed ways to implement investment and trade plans between the two countries, in addition to the events and developments in regional and international arenas.His Highness the Amir and President Mirziyoyev witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding and co-operation between the governments of the two countries on the encouragement and protection of investments, trade, the avoidance of double taxation, recruiting workers, exemption from travel visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, co-operation in the field of higher education and scientific research, co-operation between the ministries of foreign affairs and justice in the two countries, and co-operation in youth and sports, culture, municipal affairs, agriculture and food security, plant protection and agricultural quarantine. A letter of intent between the governments of the two countries for co-operation in investment was also signed.Diplomatic relations between Doha and Tashkent were established in November 1997. Since then, the governments of the two countries have been engaging in laying the foundation and the joint principles for their relations in accordance with the international law, human rights and the UN charter.The two countries have good and excellent relations at all levels, including the political relations that open doors for further development in trade and economic fields.Co-operation in the political, economic, commercial, investment, cultural and humanitarian fields has witnessed an growing development during the recent years, thanks to the will of the two countries’ leaderships to consolidate these ties and develop them in all fields in the service of common ambitions and interests, as well as security, peace and stability in the region and the world.The Qatari and Uzbek leaderships are committed to maintaining the interest-based co-operation in multiple areas, especially within the framework of regional and international organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), the UN and other entities, as the two leaderships look forward to developing a comprehensive and long-term co-operation, along with developing bilateral relations based on mutual respect.On May 7, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi inaugurated the headquarters of the Qatari embassy in Tashkent. To mark this occasion, he said the inauguration comes in implementation of the willingness of the leaders of the two countries to bolster bilateral relations and rapprochement between the two peoples, underscoring Qatar’s keenness to accomplish the process of extending bridges of co-operation and fraternity to strengthen joint efforts within the framework of international and multi-lateral co-operation.Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov said the inauguration of the embassy is a landmark event and opens a new chapter in the friendly relations between the two countries, expressing his confidence in the continuation of developing long-term partnership ties between the two friendly peoples in all priority areas.He emphasised that Qatar is an important, close and promising partner of his country in the Middle East and Arab Gulf, especially that the historic and civilised ties linking the peoples of Uzbekistan and Qatar are currently serving a solid foundation of their shared relations. He added that his country welcomes to see Qatari companies and institutions expanding their investments in its market, affirming its readiness to utilise opportunities and potential and take appropriate measures and procedures in this field.On May 7, the third round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of Qatar and Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent, during which bilateral co-operation ties and several issues of common interest were discussed.The Qatari-Uzbek ties are based on a series of agreements and memorandum of understanding in numerous fields, as shared visits between the two countries at various levels by senior officials and trade and economic delegations have largely contributed to developing relations and increasing co-ordination between them in the political, economic, trade, medical and other fields.In the context of enhancing existing co-operation between the two countries, Qatar participated in the 2nd Tashkent International Investment Forum which was held last April, and its delegation was headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Sultan bin Rashid al-Khater.On the sidelines of the forum, President Mirziyoyev and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov met with al-Khater. During the two meetings, they discussed topics of shared interest to boost co-operation in trade, investment and industry sectors, in addition to sharing viewpoints on the topics incorporated into the forum’s agenda.Al-Khater highlighted the successful economic policies laid out by Qatar to support private sector, outlining the incentives, legislations and promising opportunities available in Qatar which aim to encourage investors, businessmen and business owners to invest in Qatar.In his speech before the forum, the president said that the economic reforms carried out by his country enhanced its stature as a country that has a highest economic diversification in Central Asia, adding that foreign investors will find everything required by business sector, in terms of peace, stability and reliable assurances. He pointed out that a roughly 100,000 new companies have been established during one year in Uzbekistan, while annual size of foreign investment reached $10bn, or tippled like what it was in 2017.He said that with the support of foreign investors, thousands of modern companies were established, adding that mega projects were implemented creating thousands of high-paying jobs. He pointed out that since the implementation of reforms to optimise the business environment in Uzbekistan, nearly 1mn people were lifted out of poverty, affirming that his country has accelerated the measures of its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).Uzbekistan is a landlocked Islamic republic located in Central Asia, with an area of 448,900sq km and a population of over 36mn, occupying a prominent place that makes it a crucial gate for a market that includes over 300mn consumers. Previously, Uzbekistan’s economy has been primarily depending on commodities exports, especially cotton, gold, gas and oil, however, the vision of the country’s president for future intends to plan for much more diversity.Uzbekistan has very high potential in the renewable energy sector, especially solar and wind energy, and has signed 21 agreements during the past five years with international companies to build solar and wind energy plants at a cost of more than $9bn.Global investments in Uzbekistan grew ten times in the past six years, while the wide-ranging reforms by the government that commenced in 2017 led to the economy’s openness and had subsequently attracted foreign capital while the number of investors pivoting towards Uzbekistan is increasing.Uzbekistan’s economy has been one of the best global economies, in terms of performance in the recent years. It ranks second among the largest economies in the Central Asian region, as public investment, natural gas, gold and cotton exports constitute the key driving force for the economic growth.The economic success achieved by the reforms undertaken there made it possible to strengthen the social protection of citizens, deepen the fight against poverty, significantly reduce the unemployment rate, raise the incomes of the population, improve the quality of medical and educational services, and improve peoples living conditions. To continue the ongoing reforms in all areas, the "Strategy for the Development of New Uzbekistan in 2022-2026” has been predetermined.Given its tourism and cultural potential, Uzbekistan will host on Oct 16 the 25th Session of the General Assembly of the UN World Tourism OrganiSation (UNWTO) for the first time in its history, with the participation of delegates from about 159 countries.