Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbek-Malaysian business forum was conducted with participation of business circles and government representatives of two countries. This forum was organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade (MFERIT) and UNDP, in the framework of the “Support to External Economic Policy” project. More than 140 representatives of large international and Malaysian companies, as well as representatives of small and medium businesses of participated in the activities of the forum. Uzbek delegation included representatives from “Uzfarmsanoat”, “Uzkimyosanoat”, “Uzelektrosanoat”, “Uzbekengilsanoat”, “Uzbekneftegaz”, “Uzbekturizm” and was headed by the Deputy Minister of MFERIT Sh. Tulyaganov.

Business-forum started with opening speech of Mr.Tulyaganov and Mr. Noharudin Nordin, an executive director of the Corporation for Foreign Trade Development “Matrade”. In his speech Mr. Nordin stated that is one of the most important trade-economic partners of in Central Asia , underlining a positive growth dynamics in economic cooperation. As an example of successful cooperation Mr. Nordin mentioned Malaysian oil and gas company “Petronas”, which participates in the realization of several large projects in , with total cost of $2.3 billion. In order to strengthen economic ties between countries, he noted the need to increase trade flow between two countries.

Forum was followed by presentation of economic, investment and tourism potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan . In a series of short presentations investment opportunities of pharmaceutical, electro-technical, chemical, textile, automobile construction, oil and gas, tourism industries were presented to Malaysian investors. Separate presentation covered investment potential of Free Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ) in Navoi, highlighting opportunities created for foreign investors.

Within the framework of the business forum a series of round-table meetings between Uzbek delegation and representatives of Malaysian government including chairman of Associated chamber of commerce and industry of China in Malaysia - Mr. Sung Siv Hung, Deputy Minister of foreign trade and industry of Malaysia - Mr. Mukriz Mahathir, Deputy executive director of the corporation for development of small and medium companies in Malaysia - Mr. Mahdi Mohd Ariffin, Head of department for investment in neighboring countries of the Agency of Industrial Development - Mr. Mohd Hashim Abdulgani.

During the negotiations Malaysian side highlighted the further directions for cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan, including production and processing of agricultural products (meat, milk, fruits and vegetables), production of medical equipment, packing and labeling materials, home appliances as well as tourism.