Uzbekistan, Italy agree to resume work of intergovernmental group to promote new projects

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Uzbekistan and Italy on Thursday agreed to resume the work of the intergovernmental group between the two countries to promote new projects.

“In order to promote new projects, it was agreed to resume the work of the Intergovernmental Group and hold its meeting with a business forum,” said a statement by the Uzbek presidency following a one-on-one meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Samarkand.

They discussed development of bilateral strategic partnership relations and expansion of multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and Italy.

“Mutually beneficial cooperation has been established with leading Italian companies in the fields of metallurgy, electrical engineering, agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism and other areas,” the statement said.

It added that the two parties advocated for the continuation of active political exchange, and interaction with EU institutions, taking into account the first EU-Central Asia summit, which was held in Samarkand last month.

“The importance of holding the Central Asia-Italy summit with a focus on practical results was emphasized,” the statement said, adding that both sides agreed to expand technical assistance programs for businesses in the trade sector.

Mirziyoyev also proposed launching a technology partnership program with leading Italian companies, and they decided to prepare a comprehensive road map for implementing the agreements reached.

Meloni arrived in Uzbekistan on a two-day visit on Wednesday. She will head to neighboring Kazakhstan to attend the inaugural Central Asia-Italy summit in Astana.