The UAE minister will meet during his visit a number of senior Uzbek officials to discuss ways of boosting the bilateral relations, particularly in the economic, trade and investment areas.

The cooperation ties between the UAE and Uzbekistan have been growing steadily as they were culminated with the inking of the economic, trade and technological cooperation agreement and the foreign investment protection agreement in 2008.

The trade exchange between the two countries stood at over US$30 million in 2008 against US$46million in 2007 and UD$29million in 2006. The trade exchanges were mainly the UAE exports and re-exports to the Uzbek markets, which stood at US$34 million in 2008.

The UAE exports to the Uzbek markets included vehicles, tractors, motorcycles and spare parts, tea and spices, while the re-exportation commodities included vehicles, electrical appliances, furniture, pottery and cosmetics. The UAE imports from Uzbekistan were natural silk, zinc, products and plants.