On 17 February Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Mr Chris Allan, hosted a press conference devoted to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Uzbekistan.
The Ambassador briefed Uzbek and foreign journalists about the highlights of the Embassy’s achievements during the 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Uzbekistan, and in 2016 in particular. The Ambassador spoke about the state of bilateral relations today, and the prospects for the future.
18 February 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. Contact between our two countries goes back over six hundred years and correspondence still exists between King Henry IV of England and Amir Temur, but it is only in the years since Uzbekistan’s independence that our relations have become systematic.
Today the bilateral relationship between our two countries covers many areas, including political, commercial, security, educational and cultural spheres. On security issues, the UK and Uzbekistan are strengthening dialogue by deepening their analytical exchanges on Afghanistan and co-operation on a range of shared regional concerns. The British Embassy is also working together with the Government of Uzbekistan to tackle organised crime, including narcotics and people-trafficking. The UK has regular exchanges with Uzbekistan’s Parliament, its Central Election Committee and its National Human Rights Centre, supporting governance reform and universal values. The UK continues to strengthen cooperation with Uzbekistan on trade, economic and investment relations, in particular through the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council.
According to trade statistics published by the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade for 2016, UK-Uzbek trade amounted to US$151.3 million - a 43% increase on the previous year. Exports to the UK from Uzbekistan include ferrous metals and cotton. Leading imports from the UK include services, machinery and equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.
Above all, the Ambassador emphasized that Uzbekistan’s drive to improve the business environment, defeat corruption and attract foreign investment is an important and very positive endeavour. He highlighted the significant changes that the Government of Uzbekistan has made to its relationship with ordinary people, through online portals and other feedback mechanisms, which are also bringing many positive results. The UK is happy to help with these reforms where it can, either by sharing expertise or funding capacity building in Uzbekistan’s own institutions. This year, the British Embassy is supporting programmes worth over US$500,000 in order to support the government’s efforts on economic reform, transparency, accountability and criminal justice. In addition, as a major donor to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and contributor to European Union development finance, the UK provides many millions of dollars towards grants and concessional loans for development in Uzbekistan every year.
Concluding, Ambassador Allan underlined that the United Kingdom welcomes Uzbekistan’s ambitious plans for reform. The UK believes that Uzbekistan has a great future, and is looking forward to strengthening our relationship yet further in the years to come.
After his speech Ambassador Allan took questions from journalists.
