PAP News Wire
October 21

Poland wants to grant Uzbekistan a 30 million USD credit for the purchase of Polish services, deputy Economy Minister Andrzej Szarawarski said on Monday.

Szarawarski said that the last two years saw a drastic fall of economic cooperation between the two countries. "We want to boost Polish exports by granting the 30 million USD government credit on preferential conditions," said the minister.

Noting that Poland has a deficit in trade with Uzbekistan, Szarawarski said Polish exporters want to sell not only sugar but also construction services. Poland chiefly imports from Uzbekistan cotton, natural gas and oil products.

"Uzbekistan representatives have proposed the setting up of joint ventures in the light industry which would produce ready products in Poland basing on Uzbek cotton," said the minister.

He added that Polish companies may have a vital role in the modernization of Uzbekistan"s economy, especially in regard to the power sector and railroads.

Szarawarski is accompanying President Aleksander Kwasniewski on his official visit to Uzbekistan.

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