Uzbekistan will host the Central Asia-European Union Economic Forum and an Investors’ Forum in November, EU ambassador to Tashkent Toivo Klaar announced during Europe Day celebrations on 12 May.
“[These forums] will open up new business opportunities,” the head of the diplomatic mission noted.
The first economic forum between the two regions took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in 2021, followed by a second forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2023.
In April, during the inaugural Central Asia-EU summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the European Union unveiled a €12 billion investment package for Central Asia aimed at developing four key sectors: transport corridors, critical raw materials, green energy and satellite internet.
Ambassador Klaar also highlighted the EU’s anticipation of the next Human Rights Dialogue with Uzbekistan. Held annually, the dialogue addresses a broad range of issues, including the penitentiary system, prevention of torture and ill-treatment, labor rights, civil society, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, the rights of women and children, as well as freedom of expression, religion and belief.
Additionally, the EU is looking forward to a visit of president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Brussels later this year to sign the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA).
“This historic visit will open a new chapter in EU-Uzbekistan relations, which will deepen, diversify and modernize across many sectors,” Klaar stressed.
Earlier, it was reported that the agreement could be signed in the first half of the year.