NEWS: Over 500 companies with British capital work in Uzbekistan .
23 January 2015
- Currently some 504 firms and companies with British capital are working in various sectors of economy of Uzbekistan, Ambassador of Great Britain to Uzbekistan George Edgar said on 22 January 2015.
He said that trade-economic sphere is priority directions for development of bilateral cooperation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade (MFERIT) of Uzbekistan, the UK is one of the most important trade partners of Uzbekistan in Europe. The trade turnover between the two countries in January-October 2014 amounted to over US$100 million. In January-September 2014 it increased by 14% compared to the same period in 2013, he said.
“According to Uzbek sources, there are 504 firms and companies with British capital in various sectors of the economy, including 142 with 100% capital of British investors. MFERIT accredited 78 offices of British companies. Among largest of them is pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKleine, which supplies medicaments to the Uzbek market.
He said that second largest trans-national mining company Rio Tinto develops copper field in Namangan region. He said that engineering company WorleyParsons, specializing in development and implementation of large projects in oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan, ITE, a leader in exhibition market of Uzbekistan, which organizes international exhibitions and conferences in Uzbekistan, and JCB, largest player in construction equipment market of the world, are also working in Uzbekistan.
He said that new British companies have entered the Uzbek market. According to the Uzbek State Statistics Committee, 433 companies with foreign capital were registered in Uzbekistan, of which 10% (42 enterprises) were created with participation of British investors, George Edgar noted.
Ambassador said that in August 2014, he took part in the opening ceremony of a large retail store British Home Stores (BHS) at the shopping center Samarkand Darvoza in Tashkent which sells high-quality clothing and accessories.
George Edgar added that Great Britain is acknowledged global leader in several industries and British companies are ready to share experience and export their knowledge and technologies to the third countries.
He said that the British embassy is ready to provide assistance to interested state organizations and business people of Uzbekistan to study advanced British experience, which could be used in local conditions.
Envoy said that Embassy of Great Britain helped organized a visit of MFERIT, Mahsustrans and business people of Uzbekistan to Great Britain, where the Uzbek delegation studied experience of the country in waste management.
He said that the Uzbek delegation met with British companies in London and other cities of England and familiarized with various stages of waste management, including collection, transportation, storage, utilization, processing and secondary use of processed waste.
He said that MFERIT and Mahsustrans are planning to use British experience in waste management. They also invited British companies to participate in future tenders on construction of new objects on utilization of waste, purchase of special equipment and providing consulting services.
British envoy also noted that some British companies faced difficulties in their work in Uzbekistan and added that oil and gas company Tethys Petroleum had to end its activities in Uzbekistan.
George Edgar said that Great Britain is using existing mechanisms to improve trade-economic relations between two states, including via Uzbek-British Council on Trade and Industry.
“In November 2014, the 21st session of the Uzbek-British Council on Trade and Industry was held Tashkent, attended by more than 20 British companies. Participants discussed cooperation in various trade and economic spheres, and exchanged views on promising joint projects in the fields of education, science, tourism, waste management, and energy-saving technologies,” he said.
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UzDaily