HRH Prince Michael of Kent will visit Uzbekistan during the week and take part in all key events, including the 17th annual session of the Uzbek-Britain Trade and Industry Council (UBTIC) and the British Council Enterprise Award Ceremony.

The UK government has made developing trade relationships a key element of its foreign policy. As Foreign Secretary William Hague said in October this year, “we want to inject a new commercial focus into our relationship here in Uzbekistan...so our two countries can grow and prosper together”.

This week’s meeting of UBTIC in Tashkent will see the largest ever UK business delegation attending. Representatives of Uzbek and British business, headed by Co-chairmen Deputy Prime-Minister Mr Elyor Ganiev and Dr Hartley Booth OBE will discuss investment opportunities in a broad range of areas, including mining, energy, textile, pharmaceutical, food and other sectors.

On 9 December, HRH Prince Michael addressed UBTIC participants and also delivered a speech entitled “Britain: Your Partner for Enterprise” to representatives of Uzbek business and the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

HRH Prince Michael of Kent will visit Westminster International University in Tashkent on 10 December where he will hold a roundtable discussion on enterprise with students and UBTIC members on the theme “Uzbekistan doing Business in Britain and Britain doing Business in Uzbekistan”. He will present the annual British Council Enterprise Award and deliver a short speech to students on the theme of “Enterprise”.

During the visit HRH Prince Michael, will also visit the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and meet a number of senior Uzbek Government figures.