Press Advisories
25. 4. 2023 17:19
Prime Minister Fiala ended his ten-day tour of Asia in Uzbekistan
In the Uzbek capital, the Prime Minister held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. They talked in particular about the development of economic cooperation, support for Czech companies in Uzbekistan and the supply of mineral raw materials from Uzbekistan to the Czech Republic.
“Uzbekistan is an economic leader in the region, which is why the interest of large Czech investors in cooperation is growing. Uzbekistan has huge reserves of gold, but what is more important for the Czech Republic is that it has reserves of uranium and copper, which it is ready to supply,” said Petr Fiala, adding that Czech companies could in turn supply Uzbekistan with advanced technology for mineral extraction. “We have agreed to form two working groups. First, a working group on the extraction and exploitation of Uzbekistan's mineral wealth and a second working group for industrial cooperation,” added the Prime Minister.
During the bilateral talks, the Prime Minister also discussed the development of cooperation in transport with the representatives of Uzbekistan.
“Škoda Transportation is participating in the tender for 34 modern trains, which is a contract worth approximately CZK 10 billion and if our company succeeded, it would be the largest contract ever won by a Czech company in Uzbekistan. Another of our companies, a successful brand that is known all over the world, Zetor, is planning to set up tractor production in Uzbekistan,” said the Prime Minister.
Czech companies could also participate in other large contracts, such as the expansion of the tram fleet in Samarkand. These trams were also originally delivered from the Czech Republic. Prime Minister Fiala also supported Omnipol’s efforts to expand the sale of L-410 aircraft to Uzbekistan.
“Prime Minister Aripov has shown great interest in this and I think the negotiations are open and can go on. We can offer an air traffic control system and other equipment for the military and civil aviation. We have great prospects in the aviation sector,” said the Prime Minister.
As in all the countries that Petr Fiala visited during his business trip to Asia, he attended a business forum in Tashkent, where he supported Czech companies interested in establishing or deepening business cooperation with Uzbekistan.
“In all the countries where we have organised such a forum, it has proven to be an excellent format and creates space for cooperation. The forum can then lead to specific agreements between the participating companies,” said the Prime Minister.
During his ten-day trip to Asia, the Prime Minister visited not only Uzbekistan but also Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. He met with the highest representatives of the countries and discussed the deepening of mutual cooperation, especially in the field of trade, defence cooperation, transport, science, research and innovation.
