Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 8 November 2023, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, a meeting was held between First Deputy Minister Ilkhom Norkulov and the delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany) led by the head of the department of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany Yiannis Neophytou.

From the Uzbek side, the meeting was attended by the First Deputy Head of the Business Development Bank Alisher Muratov and the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the People's Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan Zafar Azimov.

The foreign side was represented by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uzbekistan Thilo Klinner, the head of the cooperation department of the German Embassy in Uzbekistan Michael Wimmer, the country director of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) Joachim Fritz and the director of the KfW regional office for Central Asia Andreas Schneider.

Germany is one of the leading strategic partners of Uzbekistan. In particular, in recent years, the partnership, which has been steadily developing in the political, trade, economic, cultural, educational and humanitarian spheres, has been constructive. The interest of German companies in Uzbekistan is increasing.

On 29 September, as part of a working visit to Germany, the head of state took part in a meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia with the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Particular attention was paid to priority areas of practical partnership, primarily in the field of high technology and innovative development, transport communications, green energy, vocational education, active cultural and academic exchanges.

At the beginning of the meeting, the foreign side was informed about the main functions and objectives of the ministry, as well as about the structural reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan, in particular in the areas of green economy, business development and entrepreneurship support.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current economic situation, reviewed macroeconomic conditions and exchanged views on the prospects for German-Uzbek cooperation within the framework of planned budget financing. Also during the meeting, special attention was paid to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the service and transport sectors.

Interaction between Uzbekistan and Germany in all these areas is of strategic importance and contributes to the development of the economic sector and the creation of a favorable investment environment in Uzbekistan. The discussion of these issues reflects mutual interest in expanding and strengthening economic ties between the two countries and significantly contributes to the progress and welfare of both nations.