February 23 saw the sixteenth meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the framework of the visit of Kazakhstan’s delegation to Uzbekistan, headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Mamin.

The parties exchanged information and discussed the implementation of protocol decisions of the fifteenth session of the Commission. Moreover they discussed the key issues of trade-economic and investment cooperation, further expanding the legal framework and the development of relations in customs, petroleum, cultural and humanitarian spheres, in the sphere of environment and others.

The Commission stressed the importance of this meeting in the context of the need for quality and careful preparation for the upcoming events at the highest level.

The sides noted the dynamic development and the consequent strengthening of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, especially in the trade and economic sphere.

In his welcoming speech, the head of the Kazakh delegation A. Mamin said: “Our cooperation is developing very dynamically and the next meeting of the Commission is a further proof of the commitment of both sides to further strengthen multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries”.

Kazakhstan is traditionally among the major trade partners of Uzbekistan. Thus, by the end of 2016 the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to more than $2bn.

Currently 229 enterprises with the participation of Kazakh capital, including 192 joint ventures and 37 enterprises with 100% foreign capital operate in Uzbekistan.