OREANDA-NEWS. Latvia supported accession of Uzbekistan to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the President of Latvia Andris Berzins said on 17 October 2013.

“Latvia and Uzbekistan are successfully cooperating within international organizations. We support accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO,” the Latvian leader said.

Andris Berzins said that participation in this organization is a prove for maturity of economy and allows to attract additional investments.

He praised knowledge of Uzbekistan on situation in Central Asia and Afghanistan. He said that Uzbekistan play a key role in ensuring stability in the region, including through implementation of economic development projects in the region.

Latvian President said that trade turnover between two states rose by 45.46% year-on-year in the first half of 2013. Number of joint ventures currently rose to 343. He said that the businesses of two nations express interest in developing cooperation. Business forum of Latvia and Uzbekistan, which was held on 15 October, attracted over 100 participants.

He said that he was informed that the business signed several documents and reached agreement on several projects. “We are interested in cooperation in education sphere. Latvia can offer to students of Uzbekistan to receive education of European level. We hope that current cooperation between universities of two states will be continued within the joint projects, financed by the European Union,” he said. The Latvian President added that Uzbekistan holds the fifth place on number of students, studying in Latvia. He said that about 200 students study in Latvia now.

President of Latvia Andris Berzins called Uzbekistan to use advantages of free ports of Latvia for transit of its goods and create logistic centers at ports to sell their goods in the market of Europe.