Economic Perspectives: Uzbekistan - Bavaria

Report from the event:

Uzbekistan - In the centre of the old and new Silk Road

Uzbekistan has a geographically outstanding strategic position between Russia and China. During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit in January this year and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's return visit at the end of May, the will to open up the country politically and economically became clear.

The OstWestWirtschaftsForum Bayern has therefore invited Ambassador Nabijon Kasimov to a club evening at the Bavarian Parliament.

As the most populous country in the region (approx. 32 million inhabitants), Uzbekistan is probably the most important state in Central Asia. In addition to the immense wealth of culture and mineral resources, the republic is characterized by an extremely dynamically growing economy - on average, GDP increases by about 5% annually. The transformation process from a planned to a market economy is additionally accelerated and pushed by China's massive investments in the country's infrastructure; in the meantime, the People's Republic has replaced the European Union as its most important trading partner.

The new world power in the Far East is Uzbekistan's most important partner, accounting for around 18% of total foreign trade, which is due in particular to its central location on the Silk Road - Uzbekistan and Central Asia play an important role in this major economic project in China, as Ambassador Nabijon Kasimov explains.

On the list of Uzbekistan's trading partners, Germany ranks sixth, with approx. € 600 million, the Federal Republic contributes approx. 2.3% to total foreign trade with an upward trend, explains OWWF President Eberhard Sinner in his welcoming address.

"Numerous reforms have created new opportunities, the country has become more open and transparent," added Ambassador Kasimov, adding that one of the first official acts of the Uzbek President, for example, was a decree to combat corruption. From the Ambassador's point of view, it is important to consider not only the state and the economy of Uzbekistan in isolation, but also the entire region of Central Asia. According to Ambassador Kasimov, their structure and mentality can be traced back to their location on the historic Silk Road. Central Asia is currently being strongly upgraded again by China's "New Silk Road" strategy.

The Uzbek economy is aware of the strength of German industry, especially in the technology sector. Above all the Free State of Bavaria with its numerous global players and hidden champions is in focus and Southern Germany as a whole is seen as the economic centre of the Federal Republic. This is another reason why Uzbek diplomats maintain regular exchanges and good contacts with the Bavarian State Government. In January of this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was also a guest at the Bavarian State Chancellery during his visit to Germany.

"We can see that Uzbekistan is in the middle of Central Asia. If you look at the Silk Road project, you can't really get past Uzbekistan," sums up Eberhard Sinner. The country's cultural diversity gives it a "spirit of Uzbekistan," says the President of the OWWF and former Minister of State, who has already visited the country twice.

In the following two days, Ambassador Kasimov visited several Bavarian companies, including KNORR Bremse AG, Molkerei Weihenstephan, LEONI GmbH and JOMOS, accompanied by Gf. Vice President Hermann Pönisch and Board Member Harald Leupold. In addition, at the special request of the Uzbek delegation, a meeting was held at the Association of the Textile Industry.

Announcement of the event:
 

"Economic perspectives: Uzbekistan - Bavaria
Exchange of ideas with H.E. Ambassador Nabijon Kasimov
Bavarian Parliament - Maximilianeum, Room 3
Monday, 24 June 2019, 19:00 hrs

In January 2019, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Germany and Bavaria. A German-Uzbek Economic Forum took place in the run-up to the visit. New projects in the order of € 8 billion were agreed upon. In 2018 the German economy already invested 1 billion € in Uzbekistan. Of particular interest for Uzbekistan are the production of spare parts for the automotive industry, the production of building materials, household chemicals, processing of agricultural products and food production, especially infant food.

Uzbekistan is located in the north of Afghanistan as an immediate neighbour and has always supported Germany in the deployment of the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan. The Central Asian country is in a geopolitically and economically strategic position vis-à-vis China and Russia. Under the new Presidency there will be exciting developments and a new attempt at cooperation with Germany and Bavaria. Today, Uzbekistan is an important producer of natural gas, gold and copper as well as a local producer of chemical products and machinery. The textile industry is also developing strongly.