12
enhanced partnership and cooperation
agreement providing a solid legislative basis
for
moving
our
bilateral
cooperation
to a qualitatively new level.
We will share our best practices,
education
opportunities,
investments
and
new
technologies.
The
EU
Multiannual
Indicative
Programme
2014-2020 earmarks €168 million for
support to one focal priority sector - rural
development.
Uzbekistan is also benefiting from EU
cooperation at regional level, especially in key
areas such as rule of law, border management,
trade and business facilitation, education,
sustainable energy, environment protection
and water management.
We are glad to see that the EBRD
has restarted its activities in the country and
EIB has also established itself as a new
partner for Uzbekistan confirming their trust
in Uzbek economy.
The EU is ready to provide technical
assistance and to join forces with European
as well International Financial Institutions in
order to attract additional financing for fostering
private sector development and enhancing
corporate governance.
***
Let me emphasize the importance of
regional cooperation, integration, improved
connectivity and a regional market based
on international standards, transparent rules
and regulations where borders are not dividing
countries but rather bring them together.
As you all know, today Central Asia
represents one of the least economically
integrated and connected regions in the world.
Here, it is encouraging to notice reinvigorated
interest to boost so far dormant regional
cooperation in Central Asia. We commend
Uzbekistan for its constructive and pro-active
approach to strengthening its relations and
cooperation with neighbours tackling also
sensitive issues.
Recently Uzbekistan signed a deal with
Tajikistan to restore air links, struck a landmark
border demarcation and hydropower deal with
Kyrgyzstan, and agreed to a wide range of bilateral
cooperation agreements with Kazakhstan.
Tashkent is eager to support and increase
cooperation with Afghanistan.
We welcome the initiative and
leadership of President Mirziyoyev in organizing
an important conference on Afghanistan in
Tashkent at the end of April.
We believe that the full potential of the
region can be only utilized when countries will
work together. EU wants to fully use existing
momentum and atmosphere for further
encouraging and supporting intra-regional
and inter-regional cooperation.
We note calls of our partners for the EU
to be more ambitious in the area of investments
and economic cooperation bringing so much
needed technologies for increased energy
efficiency, digital connectivity or support for
private sector development.
We have decided to strengthen our tools
and instruments for supporting investments
and private sector development in Central Asia,
including the Investment Facility for CA blending
grants with European IFIs loans, thus making
them more attractive and competitive.
The EU wants to use existing regional
programs to focus more on trade facilitation,
cross border cooperation and legal migration as
also important confidence building measures in
the region.
***
To conclude I wish to underline that we
have important ingredients: well-structured
architecture for intensive bilateral and
regional dialogue and political will on both
sides for strengthening our partnership
between the EU and Central Asia based
on shared values and mutual interests.
We also have an important momentum
and positive atmosphere in the region
conducive to strengthening inter and
intra-regional cooperation.
These
elements
need
to
be
translated into concrete action and reflected in
a more focused and better prioritised new
strategy which will provide a solid basis for
strengthening our cooperation in next 25 years.
So, I hope this conference will provide
important feedback for shaping this document
and our way forward.
I wish you a very productive discussion.