Sergei Ivanov is visiting Uzbekistan to participate next session of intergovernmental commission on cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, conference on cooperation between two states. It is expected that he will attend the launch of the Hauzak gas deposit in southwestern Bukhara region, a joint Uzbek-Russian project which was planned to start this year.

The event was organized at Tashkent-based UzExpoCenter by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Russia.

The exhibition entitled "Russia and Uzbekistan: strategic partnership" is the largest of all national exhibitions ever conducted in Uzbekistan. Its total area exceeds 4,000 square meters.

The exhibition aimed at assisting to develop trade-economic and investment cooperation, stimulating innovative activities, promoting export of Russian goods to Uzbekistan, strengthening business and cultural contacts, etc.

Sergei Ivanov said in his opening speech that Uzbekistan is one of the Russia’s strategic partners in Central Asia.

In his turn, Shavkat Mirziyoev said the parties were intending to increase the trade turnover between countries to US$4 billion soon from last year’s US$3 billion level.

Russia is the largest partner of Uzbekistan. The share of Russia in total foreign trade turnover of Uzbekistan makes up almost 30%. At the same time, Uzbekistan is the fourth largest trade partner of Russia.

The exhibition presents innovative and investment projects in such industries as power, machinery, aviation and space, and equipment for the processing of fuel-energy and raw resources and others.