A delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr Anvar Salikhbaev, visited the office of the Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) in Beribi yesterday afternoon to present the country’s tourism and investment opportunities.

The visitors were received by BMCCI’s Deputy President, Dr Hj Kamaruddin Dato Hj Talib, and other members of the Chamber’s Executive Committee, BruneiDirect reported.

The delegates told members of the chamber that Uzbekistan’s economy is based primarily on agriculture and agricultural processing, as it is a major producer and exporter of cotton.

It is also a major producer of gold, with the largest open-pit goldmine anywhere in the world, as well as substantial deposits of copper, uranium, strategic minerals, gas and oil.

Since its independence, the government of Uzbekistan has stated that it is committed to a gradual transition to a free market economy, but has been extremely cautious in moving to a market-based one.

Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous country with 27 million people. Its population continues to be heavily rural and dependent on farming for its livelihood.