Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 4 November this year, negotiations were held at the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade with representatives of the delegation of the Ventspils Free Port (Latvia) and the adjacent Free Economic Zone (FEZ).

During the meeting, issues of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were considered, bearing in mind the creation of conditions for increasing the volume of mutual trade and transit cargo. In particular, the sides discussed the lease of a terminal and other facilities, as well as the production of goods with high added value and the use of free economic zones to increase the export of goods to the countries of the European Union, including with the use of benefits and preferences provided to Uzbek exporters by the General System of Preferences GSP+.

It was also noted that the use of the port and the FEZ can significantly increase the opportunities for consolidation and distribution, as well as the transit of foreign trade goods of Uzbekistan to the Scandinavian countries, Brazil, the USA and Canada.

Following the talks, the parties expressed mutual interest in continuing active cooperation in order to reach specific practical results and agreements.

Freeport of Ventspils is an industrial center of European importance, providing port services. It is located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and belongs to the non-measuring category. In terms of cargo turnover, it ranks second in Latvia. In 2021, the total cargo turnover of the port amounted to 11.1 million tons.