“I want to applaud the successful political and democratic reforms that are underway in Uzbekistan, and to encourage your continued commitment to them,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said at the American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce Business Forum on October 23 in Tashkent.
“Such reforms are improving the business and investment climate of your country, and they are leading to a new era of growth and prosperity that will benefit the citizens of this country and those in the region,” he said.
“As President Trump discussed with President Mirziyoyev in their Oval Office meeting in the White House in May — as well as when they met in Riyadh, and again in New York City — the United States is committed, absolutely committed to being a strategic partner in your growth and development, through trade, investment, and your outreach to other nations in Central Asia,” he went on saying.
American companies are far more engaged than ever before in Uzbekistan, according to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
This year’s forum was the largest ever, with more than 1,600 government and business leaders from 25 countries in Central and South Asia, Europe, and the United States. The forum saw agreements for over $54 million in future deals, and many contacts were made that will further strengthen regional trade cooperation.
Many U.S. companies attended the event, including General Motors, General Electric, Visa, Procter and Gamble, Citibank, and Coca-Cola — to just name a few.
The “U.S. Business Week” held here last week also fulfilled a commitment made by President Trump and President Mirziyoyev during his trip to Washington in May. It, too, was a big success, Wilbur Ross said.
It will be important for Uzbekistan to establish and maintain a track record of transparency and rule of law.
President Trump commended President Mirziyoyev’s efforts to build bridges and relationships between Uzbekistan and its neighbors.
Doing so will facilitate the success of every country in the region.
The United States hopes that Uzbekistan will continue to play a crucial role in creating stability and prosperity for the broader Central Asia region, he concluded.
