Uzbek and American companies signed 54 cooperation agreements worth a total of $12 billion during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on October 19, Gazeta.uz reports, citing Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.
The agreements cover industry, transport, energy, critical minerals, finance, digital technology, agriculture, healthcare and education.
In the financial sector, agreements involving Franklin Templeton, Oppenheimer & Co., Citigroup and BlackRock aim to attract investment, help Uzbek companies access international capital markets and finance infrastructure projects.
Rail equipment manufacturer Wabtec will cooperate with Uzbekistan on localizing the production of railway equipment and components, while GE Aerospace plans to supply engines for new Uzbekistan Airways aircraft.
In the mining sector, agreements with ReElement Technologies, Traxys and Trafigura provide for mineral exploration and development, technology exchange and the supply of natural resources, including critical minerals.
Other agreements include cooperation with Amazon Leo on satellite communications, the introduction of GE HealthCare medical technologies, and efforts to improve agricultural efficiency in partnership with Valmont Industries.
The business program was held within the framework of the C5+1 format, which brings together the United States and the five Central Asian countries. It began on October 19 and brought together representatives of more than 400 companies, including over 100 American companies, around 100 from other Central Asian countries and approximately 200 Uzbek enterprises.
Tajikistan and US discuss bilateral cooperation
On October 19, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin also met with Rubio in Samarkand on the sidelines of the C5+1 meeting.
According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials discussed bilateral relations, trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as regional security and stability in Central Asia.