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The European Union has decided to extend the validity of the General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for beneficiary countries, including Uzbekistan, for the next four years until December 31st 2027. This decision gives serious impetus to the development of Uzbekistan's private sector, providing easier access to the European market, stimulating closer cooperation between European and Uzbek companies, and leading to significant savings at borders. As a result of the measures taken to strengthen trade relations with the EU and expand the global geography of Uzbekistan's exports by the end of 2022, 628 enterprises (an increase of 116 on the corresponding period in 2021) were exporting local products to European markets in the amount of U$647-million. This is more than double the $292-million figure recorded in 2020. In particular, within the framework of the GSP+ textile industry products worth $177.4-million were exported to the EU markets (an increase of 126.4% compared to 2021), agriculture and food industry products totaled $19.7-million (a 103% increase), the electrical industry recorded $9-million (a 117% increase), whilst the chemical industry totaled $138.3-million (a 4.7-times expansion). In 2022, thanks to GSP+, Uzbek exporters saved $30.65-million in duties, thus signaling a major contribution by the EU to the development of the private sector in Uzbekistan. Over the period from 2019 to 2022, EU investment in the private sector in Uzbekistan has grown more than tenfold.
The upcoming Climate Change Conference to be held in Dubai became the main topic of a recent cabinet meeting held by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. At the meeting, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov reported on preparations for participation in the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) to be held from November 30th to December 12th. Turkmenistan's accession to the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) program will be announced at the meeting as one of the main steps in countering climate change. At the meeting, Meredov proposed that Turkmenistan “continue cooperation with international organizations and partner countries in the framework of joint projects and programs aimed at fulfilling GMP conditions at a national level.” In other words, in order to meet GMP quotas, Turkmenistan is counting on the support of and joint projects with international organizations and partner countries. Advisor to the President on Oil and Gas Issues, Ashyrguly Begliyev reported on the work of the Natural Gas Research Institute of the State Concern, Turkmengaz and the Institute Nebitgazylmytaslama of the State Concern, Turkmenneft. Their work is related to the fulfillment of the conditions of the GMP. Begliyev also spoke about taking “concrete steps to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere, including through the use of modern technologies in the fields of energy, industry and transport.” Precisely what actions will be taken remain unclear, however. Deputy Prime Minister Batyr Amanov, who oversees the oil and gas industry, also reported on cooperation with German partners to increase the volume of hydrocarbon production. In particular, the importance of modernizing gas compressor stations subordinated to Turkmengaz was emphasized.
The amount held in the reserve fund of the President of Tajikistan, which is spent at the discretion of the head of the country, will increase by 68-million somoni (US$6.25-million) next year, bringing the total set to be held by 2024 to over 563-million somoni (US$51.73-million). This figure was revealed in the law on the state budget of Tajikistan for the next year, which will come into force on January 1st. The volume of the fund has increased year on year from 404-million somoni in 2021 and 438.5-million somoni in 2022. The volume of the fund is used as an indicator on accounts, and will be used in the calculation of taxes and fines in Tajikistan. The funds are used at the discretion of President Emomali Rahmon for charity, social work, and emergency situations. In particular, in recent years, republican Olympiads in the field of education and culture have been held using the reserve funds. In 2020, additional allowances were paid from the fund to doctors who worked under the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, prizes were paid from the President's fund to athletes who won medals in international competitions. The allocation of scholarships for the education of Tajik citizens in higher educational institutions abroad is estimated from other sections of the fund's expenses.
Uzbekistan Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Following a meeting between the President of Uzbekistan and a delegation of leading UAE enterprises led by Minister of Investment, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi, an agreement on a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) was signed. On December 2nd, President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation of leading UAE companies led by the Minister of Investment and Chief Executive Officer of the ADQ holding, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi. The meeting was held as part of the business program in Dubai, where the UN climate conference (COP28) took place a day earlier. The delegation also included the heads of leading Emirati companies, TAQA, Jasim Hussein Thabet, and Masdar Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi. The parties discussed issues of supporting and promoting joint projects in trade, economic and investment cooperation. After the meeting, President Mirziyoyev presented the Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi, with a state award of Uzbekistan - the Order of Dustlik for his personal contribution to the development of Uzbek-Emirati multifaceted relations. Masdar is building several solar photovoltaic power plants in Uzbekistan. In 2023, the company began the construction of three photovoltaic power plants - Nur Jizzakh for 220 MW in the Jizzakh region, Nur Samarkand for 220 MW in the Samarkand region, and Nur Sherabad for 457 MW in the Surkhandarya region. For these projects, it attracted loans of almost $400 million.
The Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev addressed the 39th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMSEC) in Istanbul. The official opening ceremony of the event took place on December 4th with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the largest official Muslim governmental international organization, uniting 57 countries. Today, OIC countries comprise more than a quarter of the world's population - 1.7 billion people on four continents - Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Over the past three years, total trade turnover between member states has increased from $3.7 trillion to $4.5 trillion. During the meeting, ministers from the participating countries discussed further efforts to strengthen cooperation, including in trade and agriculture. Kazakhstan is actively seeking to make a significant contribution to food security. Over the past five years, the country has doubled its volume of agricultural products and exports them to more than 80 countries, working in this direction with OIC members. “OIC countries are among the active trade and economic partners of Kazakhstan,” said Shakkaliev, addressing a report on improving the potential for trade with OIC member states. “Our trade turnover for the first nine months of 2023 amounted to $12.5 billion. Exports of Kazakhstani products to the OIC countries account for more than half of the total trade turnover - $8.4 billion. We need to combine the efforts of all members of the Organization in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, and expansion of investment cooperation.”
Kazakhstan Increases Oil Supplies to Germany via Russia by 54% in November The volume of transportation of Kazakh oil through the system of trunk oil pipelines of Russia’s Transneft PJSC in the direction of the Adamova Zastava oil delivery point in Russia for further delivery to Germany will increase from the planned 100,000 tons to 154,000 tons, the director of the transportation department of KazTransOil JSC, Abai Beisembayev said on November 30th. KazTransOil JSC is the national operator of the main oil pipeline in Kazakhstan. “Despite difficult meteorological conditions in the Black Sea, KazTransOil JSC fully fulfills its obligations to shippers”, Beisembayev said. “There are no restrictions on the part of Transneft PJSC today. Due to the limitations of oil transportation through the system of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium JSC, a number of shippers who would like to pump oil through our system have applied to KazTransOil JSC. Operational work was carried out with Transneft PJSC on additional pumping of the resources of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. In November, it was planned to deliver 100,000 tons of oil to Germany, but by the end of the month, the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil through the system of trunk oil pipelines of Transneft PJSC in the direction of the Adamova Zastava oil delivery point for further delivery to Germany will amount to 154,000 tons”. KazTransOil JSC confirmed its technical capability to supply 1.2 million tons of Kazakh oil a year towards the Adamova Zastava oil delivery point for further transportation to Germany, but the actual volume depends on requests from oil companies.
