British business representatives and members of the expatriate community met the new British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, George Edgar.

British nationals are in Tashkent in a variety of roles, including trade and investment, education, and working with international organizations. British companies represented here include Tethys Petroleum (oil production), Rio Tinto (mining), ITE (exhibitions), WorleyParsons (engineering), GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals), BAT (tobacco), SNR Denton (legal counselling), Wakefield Inspection Services and UzIntertek Testing Service (inspection services), Westminster International University Tashkent and the British School of Tashkent.

“It was important to me to make early contact with the British community in Tashkent. I’m impressed by the work they are doing in a range of areas in Uzbekistan. The UK is a world leader in education, high-tech engineering, design, creative industries and financial services. The British Embassy is working to raise the profile of British business in Uzbekistan, encouraging UK businesses to consider the Uzbek market.”

UBTIC, established in 1994, is the key tool for promoting trade and economic relations between the UK and Uzbekistan. Each country has its own co-Chair. The Rt Hon Mr Peter Lilley MP has recently been appointed to the UK position and Minister of Foreign and Economic Relations Mr Elyor Ganiev is the Uzbek co-Chair. A British business delegation and Uzbek companies will attend UBTIC.