The head of the state expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Gazprom, which has been expanding from year to year, UzA reported.

The sides discussed issues of development and implementation of new joint projects.

Uzbekistan is rich in gas deposits and also has a great potential for transit of gas produced in other Central Asian states.

Gazprom is one of the leading gas producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It has a 20% share in the world gas production and 94% in Russia. Gazprom unites tens of enterprises and companies dealing with extraction and processing of gas, oil and condensates, production of equipment and industrial products, construction materials and consumer goods.

Cooperation with Gazprom is beneficial for Uzbekistan. The Russian company is also interested in expansion of partnership with the country. The gas giant plans increasing its participation in gas production and sales, attraction of investments in the sector and privatization of the gas industry in Uzbekistan.

Fuel and energy complex is one of the fields Uzbekistan and Russia are successfully cooperating. In 2002, Uzbeknegtegaz national holding company and Gazprom signed an agreement on strategic cooperation in the gas sector. The agreement envisages purchase of Uzbek gas, participation in developing gas deposits in Uzbekistan, development of gas transportation infrastructure and transporting gas from other Central Asian states via Uzbekistan’s territory until 2012.