Uzbekistan is an important economic partner to Poland, its fourth largest trade partner in the CIS after Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, said Deputy Minister of Economy of Poland Elzbieta Wilczynska during the Polish-Uzbek economic seminar recently held in Warsaw, Economic and Commercial Affairs of Polish Embassy in Tashkent said in its release.

She specifically emphasized that the Ministry of Economy provides all possible support to the initiatives aimed at increasing Polish exports to Uzbekistan. The work on the draft of the new bilateral agreement on economic cooperation is nearly finished. Support is being provided to the Polish firms and companies wishing to participate in the exhibitions and fairs organized in Uzbekistan.

Especially remarkable has been the effect of efforts to support Poland’s exports to Uzbekistan through the extension of governmental loans to Uzbekistan for the procurement of Polish goods and services. In 2003, two intergovernmental agreements were signed, which later became a good foundation and support for the important projects involving the delivery of Polish goods and services to the Uzbek market.

In 2006 about 300 Polish firms participated in trade with Uzbekistan, up from 230 in 2005. The implementation of the agreements also had a positive affect on the general increase in the total volume of Uzbek-Polish bilateral trade.

Ms. Wilczynska said "both Polish and Uzbek firms are seriously interested in the establishment and development of bilateral cooperation."

Speaking at the seminar, Charge d’Affairs of Uzbekistan to Poland, Mr. Javhar Izamov placed emphasis on the high rates of economic growth observed in Uzbekistan for the past several years. The main factors supporting this growth, he said, were the expansion of production and increased flow of investments.

It was emphasized that in 2007, the country will continue to pursue the line of the liberalization of tax policy, particularly the reduction of tax burden for small and medium enterprises.

It was also noted that the Agency for Information Support and Encouragement of Foreign Investments, UzInfoInvest, was reopened under the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations on President Karimov’s initiative. This structure is not only intended to provide financial support but also to assist in the implementation of investment projects at all stages.

Polish firms and companies showed particular interest in the proposal of the Counselor on Economic and Commercial Affairs of Polish Embassy in Tashkent Marek Piontek to take an active part in the second Polish National Exhibitions, to take place on 2-5 October in Tashkent. Mr. Piontek said especially important was the participation of those firms that dominate in the exports to Uzbekistan and represent different industries.

Cosmetics, food, processing and pharmaceutical industries, according to the Counselor, have high chances of establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with the partners in Uzbekistan.