An exchange of contacts between Omsk Region enterprises and companies and officials of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan took place in the Congress Hall.
Preliminary agreements on signing a memorandum of cooperation have been reached within the framework of the contact exchange. It is assumed that the MAKOSH Agropark will become a platform for the storage and sale of seasonal fruit and vegetable products that are not grown in the region, and cotton products produced in Uzbekistan. Partners from the Republic of Karakalpakstan plan to cooperate with Omsk farmers and are considering the possibility of investing in the development of an agrologistic center.
During the visit, it was possible to discuss opportunities for further development of trade and economic cooperation, in particular, representatives of the delegation of the Republic of Karakalpakstan are interested in purchasing industrial equipment in the Omsk region, as well as in cooperation with Omsk companies considering the purchase of textiles, as well as seasonal fruit and vegetable products.
According to the regional Ministry of Economy, the Omsk Region's foreign trade turnover with Uzbekistan in January –June of this year amounted to $10 million, which is 89.4% higher than in the same period last year, while exports increased 2.3 times to $6.9 million, while imports increased by 34.5% and it amounted to 3.1 million dollars.
The ministry explained that a significant increase in exports from the Omsk region to Uzbekistan is due to an increase in the supply of machine-building products, namely lathes, metal-cutting machines, machinery and mechanical devices, as well as food products, in particular soybean oil. Imports increased due to an increase in the supply of knitwear. As of July 1 of this year, 19 enterprises with Uzbek capital are operating in the Omsk region.
"We had a good meeting, which could result in export and import contracts," concluded Bakhtiyar Kurbanov, Head of the Business Environment Development, Export Support and Promotion Group of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan of the Republic of Uzbekistan, head of the delegation.
Following the meeting, Minister of Economy Rasim Galyamov and head of the delegation Bakhtiyar Kurbanov signed a protocol on cooperation between the Omsk region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan of the Republic of Uzbekistan in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.