Uzbekistan seeks to simplify mutual supplies with the EAEU countries

According to “Gazeta.Uz”, at the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Uzbekistan advocated the development of measures to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers between the EAEU countries, the conclusion of an agreement to simplify mutual access to markets and the formation of schemes for duty-free mutual deliveries by green and express corridors.

On February 3, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov spoke at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in an expanded format in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The head of the government of Uzbekistan said that the country had completed preparatory work to simplify mutual access to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

“We have fully completed the preparatory work to ensure the harmonization of national technical regulations with the EAEU standards. We consider the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual recognition of certification results to be a logical outcome on the path to simplifying the mutual access of goods to our markets. We count on the support of all countries of the association for the adoption of this joint document with the assistance of the EAEU”,- said Abdulla Aripov.

The Prime Minister noted that the participation of Uzbekistan as an observer should help increase trade flows and liberalize trade relations with the EAEU states. According to him, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EAEU countries has grown by more than a third, to $17 billion.

Abdulla Aripov clarified that, in accordance with the current free trade regime, Uzbekistan does not apply trade restrictions to the EAEU countries.

“We stand for the joint development of specific measures to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, since the regulation of goods moved between our countries should be of a parity nature”,- the head of government added.

The Prime Minister also stated that Uzbekistan intends to continue industrial cooperation with the EAEU countries.

“Uzbekistan is firmly set to continue active work with the EAEU states on the creation of new joint ventures and building targeted cooperation between our enterprises,” said Abdulla Aripov.

He noted that today Uzbekistan is successfully implementing a number of promising projects with the countries of association that expand industrial partnership. In particular, in 2022, more than 1,000 joint ventures were created with the countries of the Union, and their total number exceeded 5,000.

The head of government also made a proposal to the EAEU countries to jointly develop new transport corridors.

“We are ready to jointly develop and take effective measures to develop efficient transport corridors to enter the markets of South Asia, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region”,- said Abdulla Aripov.

At the end of his speech, the head of the government of Uzbekistan invited the EAEU countries to an international conference on food security in Samarkand in September, which is planned to be held jointly with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The prime minister of Uzbekistan noted that the EAEU countries fully provide their domestic markets with basic types of food, as well as the necessary mineral fertilizers.

“At the same time, despite the significant agro-industrial potential, our interaction still does not allow us to quickly respond to the growing threats to food security”,- said Abdulla Aripov.

In this regard, according to him, special attention should be paid to the creation of joint agricultural clusters, the formation of agreed schemes for duty-free mutual deliveries through green and express corridors, the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan concluded.