Uzbekistan – Germany: rapidly developing cooperation and common goals

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, paid a visit to this country on May 2-3 this year.
On May 3, negotiations between President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier took place at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of our state thanked the Federal President for the invitation to visit Germany and the warm welcome provided.

The Presidents noted with satisfaction the unprecedented dynamics of the development of Uzbek-German multifaceted cooperation. Intensive political, humanitarian and business contacts continue. The parties provide mutual support within the framework of reputable international institutions, including the United Nations.

A common opinion was expressed on the importance of bringing bilateral relations to a higher level.

The leaders discussed issues of expanding trade, economic, investment and technological cooperation, identified priority areas of practical cooperation.

Thus, in recent years, the trade turnover and the number of joint projects have doubled. The volume of German investments in our economy is 5.5 billion euros, including 4 billion euros raised over the past few years.

The Presidents welcomed the results of the business events, within the framework of which trade contracts and investment and technology agreements worth over 9 billion euros were concluded.

Berlin highly appreciates Uzbekistan's efforts to ensure stability and prosperity in the Central Asian region.

In this context, Germany expressed its readiness to support regional connectivity projects, including within the framework of the EU's Global Gateway initiative.

The interest in strengthening partnership in the field of ensuring regional security, countering modern challenges and threats, primarily in the context of the situation in Afghanistan, was emphasized.

The importance of continuing to provide targeted humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, including using the capabilities of the infrastructure created in the border town of Termez, was noted.

Special attention is paid to the issues of cultural and humanitarian exchange. The leaders welcomed the opening of a unique exhibition of cultural and historical heritage of Uzbekistan in Berlin.

An agreement was reached on the preparation of a comprehensive program for the study of the German language in Uzbekistan, including by expanding the activities of the Goethe Institute in the regions of our country.

At the end of the meeting, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Frank-Walter Steinmeier to pay a visit to our country.

As part of the business program of his visit to Germany, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the heads of leading companies and financial institutions of this country.

The event was attended by the heads of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, the German-Uzbek Business Council, the German Energy Agency, heads of about 30 major companies and banks, such as CLAAS, Knauf, Siemens Energy, Lasselsberger, Aurubis, Linde Group, Günter Papenburg, Falk-Porsche-Technik, Mangold Consulting, DB Engineering, Landesbank, Commerzbank, KfW, Deutsche Bank and others.

The dialogue in this format took place for the first time in January 2019 as part of the official visit of the head of our state to Germany.

As a result, a number of joint high-tech projects on modernization of economic sectors were launched in Uzbekistan, trade, economic and investment partnership was noticeably intensified.

The President of Uzbekistan, opening the meeting, emphasized the high level of trust and mutual respect achieved in relations with Germany. More than 60 projects totaling 5 billion euros are being implemented in our country with the participation of German partners.

In recent years alone, the volume of German investments has amounted to 4 billion euros, and the number of joint ventures has doubled. Such "locomotives" of the German economy as CLAAS, Knauf, Günter Papenburg, Linde Group and Falk-Porsche-Technik are successfully operating in Uzbekistan.

The German-Uzbek Business Council, chaired by the Prime Minister from the Uzbek side, has become an important mechanism for regular "reconciliation of hours".

The President emphasized that the key role in the implementation of the breakthrough agreements reached during the current visit and further joint plans can and should be played by the business community.

Thus, on the sidelines of the Uzbek-German business forum held the day before, a number of new trade, financial and investment agreements on the development of industrial cooperation and the expansion of technological partnership for 9 billion euros were signed.

We are talking about large-scale projects in the fields of "green" energy, development of transport infrastructure, metallurgy, water supply, agriculture, chemical, mining, automotive, textile, electrical industry and other areas.

It is planned to expand cooperation in the banking and financial sphere, in particular on project financing with such major German banks as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, KfW and Landesbank.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted Uzbekistan's readiness to become an effective and reliable platform for German business in the new realities of large-scale and serious shocks in the world economy.

To this end, the necessary conditions and unique opportunities have been created for investors, a favorable fiscal system has been created – the number of taxes has been reduced, VAT rates have been reduced, and a number of customs duties have been abolished. Administrative reform has been carried out.

According to the new Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, guarantees to ensure the inviolability of private property have been strengthened, provisions on the creation by the State of conditions for fair competition and the independence of the judicial system have been clearly fixed.

It was emphasized that now the state guarantees the rights of investors and their protection in court. From now on, not entrepreneurs, but government agencies will be required to prove the legality of their decisions, and any ambiguities that arise will be interpreted in favor of investors.

– Uzbekistan should be associated with a foreign investor primarily with stability, reliability and predictability, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev. – We are ready to create all conditions so that every German businessman feels free and confident in our country. By combining the advanced developments and innovative technologies of Germany with the resources and human potential of Uzbekistan, we will be able to achieve great results.

The dialogue with entrepreneurs has again shown the significant interest of the German business community in increasing cooperation.

During the exchange of views, representatives of the German business community highly appreciated the practical significance of the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan, which create prerequisites for bolder and longer-term plans of German business to carry out investment activities in our country.

At the meeting, specific proposals were made by the heads of German companies. Readiness was expressed for further continuation of practical cooperation and expansion of cooperation in priority areas with the introduction of high-tech and innovative solutions.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sincerely thanked German business representatives for relevant initiatives, expressed satisfaction with the meaningful dialogue that took place and instructed the heads of relevant ministries and departments to approve a roadmap providing for joint development of projects and, in general, the implementation of agreements reached during the visit.

During the visit to Germany, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened a unique exhibition "Archaeological treasures of Uzbekistan. From Alexander the Great to the Kushan Empire" in the world-famous James Simon Gallery in Berlin.

Opening the event, the head of our state noted with satisfaction the growing interest of the peoples of the two countries in each other's rich cultural heritage and modern achievements.

The immortal works of Goethe, Heine, Schiller, Thomas Mann, Remarque and many others are well known and revered in Uzbekistan, they admire the magnificent music of Bach, Beethoven, Strauss, Wagner.

The German public is well acquainted with the history of Uzbekistan,
through the territory of which the ancient caravan routes that reached Europe passed.

For centuries, the Great Silk Road has made a huge contribution to the development of trade, science, culture and art, promoting intercultural dialogue, the exchange of spiritual values, the generation of progressive ideas, integration and cooperation, peace and creativity, tolerance and harmony.

The great poet Goethe in his collection of poems "The West-East Sofa" sang the beauty of the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, and the outstanding composer Handel created the opera "Tamerlane".

The opening of the exhibition was a landmark event in the history of cultural exchange between Uzbekistan and Germany. The agreement on its holding was reached during the visit of German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Uzbekistan in May 2019.

For almost four years, archaeologists, historians, art historians and museum workers of the two countries have been working hard on its organization. About 50 of the most valuable artifacts were restored with the participation of German specialists.

The exhibition, which will last until January 14, 2024, presents 65 exhibits from the collection of the state museums of Berlin and 285 from the collections of museums of Uzbekistan, many of which are being exhibited outside the country for the first time.

The exposition tells about the ancient and rich culture of our country, the history of the early states on the territory of modern Uzbekistan and Central Asia from the VI century BC to the IV century AD.

Among the masterpieces are sculptures of aristocrats, warriors and noble women from the settlements of Dalverzintep and Khalchayan of the Kushan Kingdom.