Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The 11th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (IPC) was held in Tashkent. The event was attended by heads of key ministries, departments, industry associations, commercial banks and educational institutions, as well as diplomatic missions of the two countries.

At the meeting, issues of further development of cooperation in the investment, industrial, trade, economic, transport and logistics sectors were considered and agreed upon.

During the speeches, the heads of the delegations of the two countries noted the dynamic, steadily growing nature of the bilateral partnership, which is being strengthened thanks to the sincere and trusting relations of the Heads of the two states. The mutual desire to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in areas of common interest was emphasized.

In particular, as part of the discussion of investment cooperation and industrial cooperation, a number of issues were agreed on the implementation of joint projects, such as the creation of a silk production cluster in 6 districts near the city of Barda, the development of new projects in the Yevlakh pilot agricultural park and the Aghdam industrial park, the organization of a joint venture for the production of jewelry in Tashkent, the development of cooperation in the field of the chemical industry, energy and oil and gas industries.

It was announced that in 2021 alone, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan increased by more than 40%, and since the beginning of this year it has grown by another 62% compared to the same period of last year. To intensify mutual trade, the practice of holding annual meetings of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani Business Council and mutual trade missions will be introduced.

A separate priority, outlined in June of this year in the framework of the negotiations at the highest level, is the direct interaction of the regions. During the discussion of practical steps in this direction, the parties reached an agreement on organizing the first Forum of Regions, as well as an exhibition of national manufacturers from various regions of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in November of this year in Tashkent.

In the context of realizing the transport and logistics potential, the need was noted to continue work to create favorable conditions for increasing the volume of bilateral and transit traffic along the Trans-Caspian route, as well as to intensify work within the framework of the Agreement on International Road Transport signed at the highest level in June this year, which will contribute to the growth trade between the two countries.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the issues of interaction within the framework of cultural and humanitarian partnership, increasing mutual tourist flows and exchanging experience in the field of education, including through the development of direct contacts between the universities of the two countries.

Following the meeting, a ceremony of signing a package of bilateral documents was held. Thus, the joint Roadmap for the deepening and expansion of trade and economic cooperation and industrial cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding between the bodies for the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs, the Memorandums of Cooperation between the Economic Zone Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Associations "Uzbekipaksanoat" and "Uztekstilprom" have received legal force. . All these and other agreements were reflected in the final minutes of the meeting signed by the heads of delegations.