Mr Potter met Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Mr Ganiev, Norbert Jousten, HE Ambassador of European Delegation, Mr Shaikhov, HE Ambassador and Chairman of Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from Tethys Petroleum, Rio Tinto, ADB and the World Bank to discuss trade and investment between the UK and Uzbekistan.

Mr Potter’s visit looked at ways of further supporting economic relations between the UK and Uzbekistan, the Embassy said.

“I was delighted to meet Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Mr Ganiev, as well as heads of local companies doing business here, trade associations and colleagues from other Embassies. I was able to see first-hand some of the opportunities in the market place, as well as look at ways to overcome challenges. In addition to the advice and support offered by the team in Tashkent to companies in the UK looking to export to central Asia we will speak to companies already based in Moscow to see whether they might consider expanding their business to Uzbekistan if it makes business sense for them to do so”.