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Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei: The tireless efforts of the President of Uzbekistan have changed the economic and social landscape of the country, making it oriented towards the future
– Today, on the eve of the celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the State Independence of Uzbekistan, which also coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, – said Minister Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei. – I would like to especially note that this significant milestone underscores the historically deep roots of partnership based on mutual respect and a common vision of the future.
Uzbekistan is a country with a rich cultural heritage and achievements. Under the leadership of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has become a key player in both the regional and global arenas. His tireless efforts have transformed the economic and social landscape, making it future-oriented.
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, our cooperation with Uzbekistan has been significantly expanded. The main focus is on development and mutual cooperation. Our strong relations have been strengthened in sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, smart government and exchange of experience, and many others.
To further their economic growth, both countries are implementing a number of strategic initiatives. During my visit to Uzbekistan in April this year, accompanied by a high-level delegation of government officials and representatives of UAE companies, I was pleased to meet with His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Our conversation focused on the prospects and promising opportunities for strengthening cooperation, including in such sectors as green energy, mineral resources, agriculture, transport and communications.
Without a doubt, His Excellency the President’s vision of strategic goals to strengthen cooperation with foreign partners and attract investment will serve the further development of New Uzbekistan. We also identified a number of promising projects that can be implemented in the near future.
In addition, an example of our strategic partnership is the intergovernmental Knowledge Exchange Program, adopted in 2019 for ten years. This program reflects our common vision and goals and serves as a global model for effective interaction. It highlights our commitment to mutual progress and innovation, promotes the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices, and focuses on capacity building and innovative initiatives inspired by the UAE government model.
To date, the programme has launched over 175 initiatives, conducted 570 workshops and trained over two million people.
In line with our unwavering commitment to a sustainable future, as stated at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 and subsequent global agreements, including the historic UAE Consensus, the UAE and Uzbekistan are working together to combat the impacts of climate change. In collaboration with Masdar, solar and wind power projects with a combined capacity of 2,047 gigawatts have been developed in the Jizzakh, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Navoi, Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions. This represents the largest solar energy development programme in Central Asia.
In addition, infrastructure development plays a vital role in strengthening economic ties and accelerating communications. A number of programs are being implemented to achieve this goal. Earlier this year, our countries signed a memorandum of understanding on investment cooperation in the field of digital infrastructure. I look forward to Uzbekistan becoming a regional hub for data and artificial intelligence. In this regard, I encourage UAE companies to explore the country's capabilities in this area. In turn, we invite companies in Uzbekistan to take advantage of the promising opportunities offered by the UAE.
The UAE offers a dynamic, thriving economic business environment that attracts foreign investment. We occupy a leading position in the world as a developed financial, trade and economic hub, which allows the country to become a global capital for investment and economic innovation. In addition, the UAE serves as a comprehensive incubator for entrepreneurship and an advanced laboratory for new economic opportunities and emerging projects.
Uzbekistan’s rich history, traditions and heritage also provide an important foundation for developing strong, constructive and successful relations. Therefore, expanding bilateral cultural cooperation is a natural and fruitful endeavor for both sides, strengthening the bridges of communication between our peoples. To maintain this connection, there are currently 42 weekly flights between the two countries.
As we approach the 33rd anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, it is important to celebrate the progress we have made together and reaffirm our continued commitment to further strengthen our bilateral relations and promote the growth and prosperity of both countries and our peoples, paving the way for success.
In recent years, your country has carried out important reforms, achieved great success in state building, improving the well-being of the people and strengthening the republic’s international standing.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate all the people of Uzbekistan on Independence Day.
I wish the leadership and people of Uzbekistan good health, happiness, peace and lasting prosperity!
