Uzbek president supports removing barriers to development of trade between Central Asian states Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has suggested removing barriers to the formation of a full-fledged free trade zone in Central Asia."Our countries are natural trade partners, and the national economies mutually complement each other. At the same, an analysis shows that trade within the region accounts for an insignificant share of our countries' total trade. Barriers to the formation of a full-fledged free trade zone in Central Asia remain," Mirziyoyev said at a consultative meeting between the heads of Central Asian states in Astana on Friday.The text of the Uzbek president's speech was published on his official website.With the involvement of international experts, an analysis was conducted and priority measures that will double mutual trade in the coming five years were determined, Mirziyoyev said.The priorities include removing tariff and non-tariff barriers, mutual recognition of compliance certificates and unifying regulations, the digitalization of customs transactions and phytosanitary procedures, and considering the possibility of mutual access to state procurement, he said."Our strategic goal should be the formation over the long term of a common regional market," he said.To consider these issues, he suggested setting up an economic council and regular meetings at the level of Central Asian countries' deputy prime ministers. Mirziyoyev said he is ready to host the first such meeting in Tashkent next year and hold a week of Central Asian business partnership there.By joining efforts, "we can form a common map of the region's industrialization with the creation of short added value chains, attract investment and the technologies of leading international companies, and introduce new forms of cooperation," Mirziyoyev said.Among the prospective initiatives he mentioned are the foundation of the Central Asian Investment Council, the creation of an innovations development bank of the region's countries, and regular joint investment forums.The Uzbek president gave special attention to the need to take measures to develop effective transport corridors. There are currently many projects on the agenda that ensure access to the markets of the European Union, China, South and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, he said."Issues around forming and implementing coordinated tariff policies, using preferences to support national carriers, modernizing the transport network and infrastructure, increasing border crossing point capacities, and the digitalization of the transport sector require a systemic approach," Mirziyoyev said.He also addressed the food security issue, noting that the Central Asian states can not only cover the region's needs for main food products, but can also take strong positions on the international market.Mirziyoyev also emphasized the importance of partnership in the energy sector. "A number of strategic projects to increase electrical power generation and its export to third states are now under consideration on a regional scale. Besides, there are plans to develop nuclear energy [and] increase the hydrocarbons supply," Mirziyoyev said.Speaking about the consequences of global climate change, he suggested that the region's states act as a united front at the upcoming Climate Summit in Azerbaijan in November. "We are talking about holding a joint presentation of the environmental situation in the region to draw the attention of the international public, funds and donor organizations to the solution of these acute issues, including the Aral Sea disaster," Mirziyoyev said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: Interfax