A number of Uzbek officials are scheduled visit Batam, Indonesia, from 18 to 25 July 2007, under a program on the promotion of the economic and industrial zone on the island, Antara reported.

The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry informed here Tuesday that the visit would be part of Uzbekistan’s effort to improve Uzbek government officials’ knowledge on the economic and industrial zone and its various aspects. According to the ministry, the visit would constitute an effort to implement the program on the exchange of visits of the two countries’ government officials.

During their visit, the officials from Uzbekistan are expected to take part in activities organized by the Batam authority of the investment system and conditions on industrial development and the mechanism of protecting copy rights, export promotion and services for local and foreign investors, mechanism of interactions among relevant government institutions, taxation and customs mechanism in support of free trade and business activities in Batam.

On the occasion, the delegation was scheduled to meet with officials of the local promotion office, the Batam authority, customs officers and executives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin)’s local office.

At the end of their visit, the Uzbek officials were also slated to get first-hand inputs on Indonesia’s efforts to develop and manage the economic and industrial zone in Batam which has now become an industrial and trade centre in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the establishment of an economic and industrial zone is still in discourse in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek officials would pay a visit to Batam under the coordination of the Indonesian Embassy in Tashkent in cooperation with UNDP representatives in Tashkent, the Batam authority and the local administration.