Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 November, as part of a visit to France, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev held a series of meetings with the leadership of the French Ministry of Trade and a number of large French companies to discuss the current state and measures for the further development of trade, economic and investment cooperation.

In particular, at a meeting with Minister Delegate for Trade of the French Republic Oliver Becht, an exchange of views took place on the current state of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as the implementation of major projects in the field of energy, water supply, heat supply, geology and others. An agreement was reached to expand the range of mutual trade in the supply of metals, chemical products, glass, textiles, food and other goods, including using the benefits and preferences of the GSP + system.

During the conversation with the Director General of the French Development Agency (AfD) Rémy Rioux, the high dynamics of bilateral cooperation was noted. An agreement was reached to expand cooperation with the divisions of the AfD PROPARCO and Expertise France, as well as the signing of the Partnership Program between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the French Development Agency for 2023-2025.

At a meeting with the management of EDF, the progress of the implementation of the company’s current projects in Syrdarya and Surkhandarya regions of Uzbekistan was discussed. Representatives of the company expressed interest in the implementation of new projects in the development of alternative energy sources in Tashkent and Navoi regions with a total capacity of 1250 MW. As a result of the meeting, the parties reached an agreement on further elaboration of issues related to the implementation of joint projects.

During the meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SUEK Sabrina Soussan, the organizational aspects of the implementation of investment projects to modernize the water supply systems of the city of Tashkent and Surkhandarya region were considered with the prospect of extending the company’s experience to the development of water supply systems in other regions of Uzbekistan. An agreement was reached to continue work on expanding cooperation, bearing in mind the company’s participation in projects to modernize heating networks in cities and manage solid waste.

A meeting was also held with the management of the EIFFAGE company, at which the implementation of the project for the construction of the main water pipeline in the direction of Yakkabag-Karshi was discussed. The length of the pipeline is 82 km with 4 water storage tanks. The parties agreed to take measures to accelerate the implementation of the project.