Stashalkovski said the Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Rustam Tokhtabaev visited Poland in April 2008 to discuss trade-economic relations. He said the Uzbek official met Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Martsin Korolts [transliterated] and discussed deepening of relations in cotton production, cattle-breeding, veterinary, agriculture products and their processing, etc.

Polish official said that the Poland firms are interested in projects within the Navoi free industrial and economic zone.

However, he said global financial and economic crisis negatively impact to development of Polish-Uzbek trade relations.

According to preliminary statistics of Poland, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Poland made up US$40.6 million in four months of 2009, or 15% less year-on-year.

He said exports of Poland to Uzbekistan increased by 101% year-on-year to US$32.4 million, while imports from Uzbekistan to Poland decreased twice to US$8.2 million. He said the current trade balance surplus was positive for Poland and made up US$24.3 million.

At the same time, the growth of exports of machinery and equipment, which made up 56% of total export, textile products and materials, which grew 4.2 times year-on-year. Export of cattle and cattle products from Poland to Uzbekistan rose by 41%.

Poland mainly imports cotton and textile products, which account half of total import volume, and chemical products, which attained 30% of total imports. Uzbekistan exports to Poland also included food products and mineral goods.

Stashalkovski said the sides should improve information supply to business on investment climate, legal base, business environment and enterprises with foreign capital in the markets, etc.