Sofia Echo
November 30

Uzbekistan is offering support to Bulgarian construction companies that could work on infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, Uzbek president Islam Karimov said.

He was speaking on November 25 at the opening of a Bulgarian-Uzbek business forum in Sofia. The event was held during Karimov's official visit to Bulgaria from November 24 to 26.

Uzbek companies have already built nine bridges in Afghanistan. A tender for railway construction is expected to be awarded to Uzbekistan in the near future. According to Karimov, Uzbekistan was practically the only country linked by infrastructure to Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan is looking forward to Bulgaria's proposals to relieve customs barriers as a way of increasing trade between the two countries. The situation at the moment is unsatisfactory, Karimov said.

Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said that the unfavourable situation was because of transport difficulties and the lack of bank contacts among other reasons. The two countries should improve financing and export guarantees and insurance, he added. According to him the future building of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) and Corridor number eight, linking Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and Italy will facilitate relations with Uzbekistan. The forum was attended by producers of fruit and wine, by representatives of Uzbek banks, industry organisations, and tourism associations.

The trade turnover between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan amounts to $5 million, which is below its potential, Purvanov said. A joint textile enterprise will be set up in Namangan between Uzlegprom and Veno Holding. The company will sew shirts and export them to third countries, Veno Holding director Dimo Petrov said. The Uzbek partner will contribute cotton and the Bulgarian company will provide engineer services and equipment. The output will be sold on the Asian and European market, Petrov added.

The plant is to make 10 million shirts within a year and 1000 new jobs will be created, Uzbeklegprom Association President Azamhon Bahromov told Bulgarian news agency BTA.

"Bulgaria is Uzbekistan's long-term reliable partner in Eastern Europe," Karimov said at a joint news conference with Purvanov. Uzbekistan is going to open an embassy in Sofia in the near future, Karimov said. Purvanov said the two countries co-operate well in the international organisations in which they are members, for example the United Nations. He emphasised Uzbekistan's good policy concerning ethnic and religious minorities, the Bulgarian minority included.

Karimov had talks with Parliament Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov.

"We are aware that the two countries are far apart geographically and I hope that TRACECA will help bring them closer," Gerdjikov said. Towards the end of his visit to Bulgaria Karimov visited Bourgas. He met mayor Yoan Kostadinov and told him that his country could use the Port of Bourgas for its cotton trade. Uzbekistan is the second largest exporter of cotton. In Bourgas Foreign Minister Solomon Passi met his Uzbek counterpart Sadiq Safayev, who was accompanying Karinov. The two discussed bilateral relations and international issues, and signed a consular convention.

Ten bilateral documents were signed on November 24. Four of them were intergovernmental agreements: on avoidance of double taxation; on international transport; on co-operation in railway transport; and on co-operation in the fight against illegal trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances, their misuse and illegal trafficking in precursors. Four treaties were signed also: on extradition; on legal assistance in civil matters; on legal assistance in criminal matters; and on readmission.

Veterinary and consular conventions between the two governments were also signed.

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