The event was aimed at discussing issues of expansion of the trade, economic and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and Norway, UzA reported.

The Norwegian businessmen received information on the priority directions of attraction of investments to Uzbekistan, the privatization process, reforms in the economy, banking, oil and gas, small business and other sectors. They also familiarized with the opportunities in the Navoi free industrial-economic zone.

“Uzbekistan is a country with huge economic potential,” the Deputy Director General of the CIS Department of the Norway Foreign Ministry Bard Svensen said. “Favorable investment environment in the country attracts the attention of the foreign businessmen.”

The trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Norway increased almost two times in January-September 2009 compared to the same period of last year.

The representatives of about 10 large companies of Norway that participated in the forum expressed interest to the development of cooperation with the Uzbek businessmen.

The members of the Norwegian delegation also visited a number of ministries and departments of Uzbekistan for talks on expansion of cooperation.