The Leaders of Uzbekistan and Germany hold an Online Summit

On March 12, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with the Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, via videoconference.

Germany, being one of the leading global powers, confidently occupies a leading position in various sectors and spheres of the global economy as a recognized industrial and technological flagship.

The German side is actively involved in promoting international initiatives to overcome the consequences of the pandemic, providing great practical assistance to countries around the world, including Uzbekistan.

In particular, with the assistance of Germany through the COVAX Initiative, Uzbekistan will receive the first large batch of coronavirus vaccines by the end of the month. Close cooperation has been established with Robert Koch Institute – an authoritative European Research Center in infectious diseases.

The agenda of the current summit of Presidents of Uzbekistan and Germany included issues of further enhancing multifaceted cooperation between the countries in the context of increasing crisis phenomena in the world caused by a difficult epidemiological situation.

President of Uzbekistan and Chancellor of Germany noted with deep satisfaction that the joint implementation of the agreements reached during the high-level meetings in Berlin two years ago provides a stable dynamic for the development of collaboration.

The Head of the state expressed gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its continued support for the new course of democratic reforms, as well as for expanding the program of financial-technical assistance to socio-economic reforms in the country.

Special attention was paid to the issues of economic cooperation. Germany is traditionally a key technological and investment partner of Uzbekistan.

In recent years, the trade turnover has increased by 1.5 times, and about 50 new joint ventures have been established. Such well-known German companies as MAN, Claas, Knauf, Papenburg are actively operating in Uzbekistan. Volkswagen and Viessmann entered the market for the first time, Siemens and Bosch returned after a long break. Last year, the volume of investments of German companies in Uzbekistan’s economy exceeded $700 million.

An agreement was reached to support joint projects, business contacts and initiatives, as well as to expand the activities of leading German companies and financial institutions in Uzbekistan.

The next meeting of Uzbekistan – Germany Business Council is scheduled for May this year to discuss new areas of cooperation, primarily in the development of industrial clusters, digitalization and green economy, and promotion of projects in renewable energy.

It was agreed to continue cooperation on the issues of Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as within the framework of a constructive dialogue with the European Union, including the early completion of the preparation of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

The importance of deepening cooperation in such priority areas as ensuring human rights and freedoms, fighting corruption and gender equality was noted.

The initiative to expand the study of the German language in Uzbekistan and adopt an appropriate State Program was supported in the humanitarian exchange.

President of Uzbekistan and Chancellor of Germany also exchanged views on the current international agenda and cooperation within the framework of global and regional structures.

The policy of Uzbekistan to strengthen friendship, good-neighborliness, trust and partnership in Central Asia was supported. Efforts to assist the peace process in Afghanistan and to promote regional infrastructure projects in transport and energy were highly appreciated.

Following the talks, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Uzbekistan.

The meeting of the Leaders of Uzbekistan and Germany was held in a traditionally open, constructive, business and friendly atmosphere.