Italy exports to Uzbekistan increased in 2008 by 51%, and Italy reported a positive trade balance. Italian investments there over the last two years are also on the rise, and Norov expressed his hopes in Italy’s support for the formation and development of local tourism infrastructures and offered to cooperate in the energy sector. Norov also stressed his country’s need to train specialists in the textile sector and to pursue educational cooperation, sectors he hoped to collaborate on with Italy.

“We will meet in 2009 in the Joint Working Group on economic issues”, Secretary Mantica commented, “to examine together the possibility of a business forum, and to give greater continuity to political dialogue”. With regard to the main international issues, Senator Mantica announced that “we had an exchange of views on Afghanistan with the Minister for Foreign Affairs ahead of the G8 meeting in Trieste”.

Senator Mantica also signed a Cooperation Agreement on public healthcare and medical sciences with Minister for Health Nazirov. Finally, the Foreign Secretary met with President of the Senate Foreign Commission Safaev.