ISLAMABAD, JAN 28 (DNA) – Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Punjab government has planned to upgrade and further beautify the Shalimar Garden in Lahore. The Uzbek government will bear expenses incurred on this project.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan Furqat Sidikov disclosed this while talking to DNA.

He further said Uzbekistan attached great importance to preservation of heritage adding his country ranked top among those countries having a rich cultural and historical heritage.

The ambassador said, Pakistan happened to be a close friend of Uzbekistan and in order to further strengthen these friendly bonds the Uzbek govt has planned to expand its cultural cooperation with Pakistan.

  The ambassador said Uzbekistan was developing at a fast speed adding his country was one of the main political and trade partners of Pakistan in Central Asia. The year 2018, he said, was very significant in bilateral relations especially in the field of trade and economy.

He added, in 2018 475 bilateral meetings were held with representatives of leading Pakistani companies besides organising 30 visits of Pakistani companies to Uzbekistan for trade and investment matters.

Additionally, 17 bilateral visits were made between Uzbekistan and Pakistan including at the level of foreign ministers, military establishment, secretary of Security Council, ministries of trade, investment and others.

He added, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries has also increased manifold.

In January-December 2018 trade turnover between both countries grew for 170 per cent and amounted to 98.4 million US dollars. Last year this indicator was only 36 million US dollars.

Last year Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan amounted to 63 million US dollars and continue to grow steadily, he added.

In 2018 the embassy worked on 7 investment projects totalling more than USD 40 million. Of these, 3 investments agreements were concluded during the visit of the Minister of Foreign Trade Khojaev to Pakistan in April 2018.

The ambassador further said, according to the ministry of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan in 2018 with the assistance of the Embassy, 30 joint ventures with participation of Pakistani capital were established in Uzbekistan.

He said the Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has declared 2019 as the year of active investment and social development.

“Investment is the driver of economy. New technologies, advanced experience and highly qualified specialists come with investments into all sectors of Uzbekistan, business is rapidly developing”, he added.

Ambassador Furqat further said according to the Uzbek president the mail goal of this new year is that every person in Uzbekistan, regardless of the nationality, language and religion will get much more prosperity and happiness.

He said the govt had planned concrete measures to create an open economy, radically improving the business environment and investment climate, reducing the state presence in economy.

Apart from this, efforts on improving the health of the population will continue at a new level.=DNA

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