Negotiations between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, took place in the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana, involving a narrow circle and official delegations. This was reported by the Presidential press service.
At the beginning of the meeting, the leader of our state expressed his gratitude to the Slovenian leader for the warm welcome and noted that the high-level events being held for the first time in the last 20 years mark the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries.
The current issues of further developing practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Slovenia were discussed.
The activation of political dialogue, various levels of contacts, and business meetings were noted with satisfaction. Both countries are supporting each other within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations.
In recent years, trade turnover has tripled. Exchanges in the fields of culture and tourism are expanding. A visa-free regime has been introduced for Slovenian citizens in Uzbekistan.
The importance of establishing regular high-level and high-ranking dialogues to systematically develop bilateral relations was emphasized.
Special attention was paid to issues of increasing trade turnover and its volume, primarily by expanding the range of products and substituting imports, aiming to reach 500 million euros in the first phase.
The supply of textiles, fruits and vegetables, mineral fertilizers, copper products and other industrial goods from Uzbekistan, and pharmaceuticals, advanced technologies, and equipment from Slovenia are among the examples.
The potential use of Slovenia's "Koper" port as a logistics hub for entering the European Union market is being explored.
Agreements were reached on adopting an Industrial Cooperation Program with leading Slovenian companies, as well as on projects to localize the production of modern equipment, industrial and agricultural products, pharmaceutical products including honey and medicinal herbs, and the construction and modernization of energy facilities.
It was agreed to prepare an agreement on organized labor migration by developing programs for language and vocational training and adaptation in the field of labor standards.
Tourism development, especially in rural and mountainous areas, was identified as a promising direction. The parties agreed to sign an agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas and to launch joint educational programs with the universities of Ljubljana and Maribor.
Additionally, next year a Forum of Innovative Projects of the Youth will be held in Tashkent, with the participation of higher education institutions and scientific centers of both countries.
To strengthen humanitarian exchanges, the parties proposed the initiative of holding mutual cultural days and a week of Uzbek cinema in Ljubljana.
To ensure the execution of all set tasks, it was decided to organize the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Ljubljana in July this year.
At the end of the meeting, the leader of our state invited the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, to visit Uzbekistan at her convenience.
