OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2012. Palace of Nations in Geneva hosted a conference “Uzbekistan and Europe: perspectives of development of cooperation in transport and energy spheres”.

The event was organized by Permanent Office of Uzbekistan at UN and other international organizations in Geneva, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as well as Center for Political Studies and Fund Forum.

Representatives of over 100 officials, business and expert-academic circles from ECE and Middle East region, international organizations of the UN systems and diplomatic corps in Geneva.

The conference consisted of plenary session and two thematic sessions “Uzbekistan as gate between Europe and Asia” and “Perspective directions of development of energy cooperation between Uzbekistan and Europe”.

Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD Petko Draganov opened the conference and said that it is important step for further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and European countries in transport and energy.

During the event, the Uzbek side provided information on macroeconomic figures, favourable investment climate, current state of investment cooperation of Uzbekistan with foreign states, Navoi free industrial and economic zone, as well as advantages of intercontinental position of Uzbekistan, which is located at the heart of corridor, which connects European markets with Southern and Southern-Eastern Asia. Having rich resources of natural gas, Uzbekistan can become key partner of Europe, which is largest gas consuming market.

At the thematic sessions, the presentations on transportation communication system of Uzbekistan, its transit and international opportunities, potentials and investment opportunities of Navoi free industrial and economic zone, international transport corridor Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman-Qatar, perspectives of transport communication between Uzbekistan and Europe as key factor for stimulating international trade and economic growth.

During the second session, the participants discussed issues of cooperation in energy sector between Uzbekistan and Europe, including investments, technologies, exploration and mining raw materials, creating energy, oil and gas transportation objects.

The discussions showed that there are large and untapped potential of development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Europe in transport and energy sector. It was noted that positive results in transport-communication sector and oil and gas, as well as energy sectors create additional opportunities for potential European investors.

In this context, UNECE and UNCTAD officials made several proposals on increasing efficiency of works, carried out in Uzbekistan in this direction, including accession to UN conventions and programmes in transport and energy sectors.