In 2019, Uzbekistan plans to increase exports to Ukraine up to $220 million and restore flights between Tashkent and Kiev, Kun.uz correspondent reports referring to the statement of the republic’s ambassador to Ukraine Alisher Abdualiyev.
In addition, it is planned to develop projects involving the attraction of direct investments in the amount of $10 million for producing pharmaceutical products, hold cultural-humanitarian activities.
“We approach the organization of events for 2019 from the security point of view due to the ongoing instability in Ukraine. In such cases, first of all, it is necessary to develop measures to ensure the safety of citizens in possible emergency situations. We hope that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in a peaceful and calm atmosphere," the ambassador said.
According to him, the instability in Ukraine in the last four years has a negative impact on the Uzbek-Ukrainian cooperation. For example, if in 2013 the trade turnover between the countries reached $1.1 billion, in January-October of this year this figure was only $363.5.
Despite a challenging situation in the economic partnership, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ukraine, jointly with the ministries and departments of our country, took targeted measures to improve the situation in 2015-2017. Over the past two years, business meetings and negotiations have been organized to stimulate the export of textile, leather and footwear products, home appliances and automobiles. In the course of these events, export contracts were concluded for a total amount of more than $120 million.
In 2016, “Artel” household appliances were exported to Ukraine. Currently, this brand items are being sold in 16 regions of the country.
"As you know, the flights between Tashkent and Kiev are temporarily suspended. This negatively affects the development of tourism in our country. Now the work is underway to restore direct air links with Kiev from the second half of 2019. It will help eliminate the factors that impede mutual tourist exchange," the diplomat noted.
The export of “SamAuto” buses to Ukraine has begun in February 2018. Heads of large Ukrainian enterprises visited Uzbekistan to discuss issues of exporting special-purpose goods.
“In October-November of this year, there was a misunderstanding in mutual trade. To eliminate it, the PM of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov had a telephonic conversation with the First Deputy PM of Ukraine, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv. As a result, the trade turnover has had an increase of 65.6%,” Mr. Abdualiyev said.
Today, over 40,000 Uzbek citizens live in Ukraine. 880 of them are constantly registered at the embassy. In addition, 2,800 boys and girls from Uzbekistan study at the higher educational institutions of Ukraine.
