Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 10 January, an Uzbek-Japanese business forum was held in Tashkent within the framework of the visit of Japan's State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosuke Kozuki.

It was attended by heads of key ministries and agencies, industry associations, as well as representatives of about 200 major companies of the two countries engaged in IT, energy, digital transformation, healthcare, agriculture, electrical industry, medical and pharmaceutical sectors and other areas.

Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Ryosuke Kozuki delivered welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Emphasizing the high level of trusting relations between the leaders of Uzbekistan and Japan, which is one of the fundamental factors of positive dynamics in the development of relations between the two states, Laziz Kudratov outlined Uzbekistan's key achievements in the development of economy, trade, industry and improvement of investment climate. In particular, he highlighted the introduction of effective legislative norms aimed at protecting the rights and interests of investors, the level of provision of all necessary utilities, infrastructure, availability of energy resources, reduction of state participation in the economy and large-scale privatization processes, creation of privileges and preferences for investors, the possibility of duty-free exports to the EU markets within the framework of GSP+ and CIS markets, diversification of interregional transport corridors.

The sides also draw attention the importance of intensifying direct contacts between representatives of business circles of the two countries, while voicing readiness to provide comprehensive support in the implementation of all joint projects and initiatives. The heads of Japanese companies were assured of the commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan to accelerate the expansion of Uzbek-Japanese business partnership.

As the most promising areas for the implementation of joint investment projects, such sectors as the development of IT-sphere, alternative energy, education, medicine, tourism, and expansion of digitalization were designated.

The Forum also included panel sessions on the following topics: "Prospects for Energy Transformation" and "Digital Transformation in Industrial Development. Japanese startups as a tool for the development of Uzbekistan's economy". During the sessions, experts, heads of ministries and agencies, large companies shared their vision of introducing Japanese innovations and technologies in various sectors of Uzbekistan's economy, which in symbiose with the country's abundant raw material base and highly skilled labor resources can bring a significant economic effect.

During the business forum, "G2B" and "B2B" meetings were also organized, where participants were able to discuss issues of establishing joint ventures and concluding mutually beneficial trade agreements.

At the end of the Forum 14 documents were exchanged in the spheres of education, IT-technologies, alternative energy and medicine, use of space technologies in geodesy and cartography. A "Road Map" was formed, according to which the realization of each project will be fully supported.