Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman of the Board Gürsel Baran stated that the bilateral trade volume with Uzbekistan, which has the same roots and culture as Turkey, should rise to the level of 5 billion dollars and then 10 billion dollars as soon as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated, He said that as Ankara Chamber of Commerce, they will try to develop bilateral commercial relations in line with this goal. Baran stated that they made a request from Turkish Airlines for a direct flight from Esenboğa to Tashkent and said, "THY is working on a flight that will connect Ankara and Uzbekistan directly."
Davron Vakhabov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, visited ATO President Gürsel Baran in his office with the delegation accompanying him.
Speaking during the visit, which was also attended by ATO Vice President Temel Aktay, Baran expressed his pride that more than 2 enterprises operating in many fields in Uzbekistan represent the talent of the Turkish real sector.
Noting that Uzbekistan is an important country for Turkey, Baran said, “We have the same roots and the same culture. The cities of Samarkand and Tashkent, located on the historical Silk Road, are important for understanding our own roots and values. Uzbekistan has a key role among the Turkic Republics with its population of over 35 million, its underground and aboveground riches and its geographical location. We do not consider the 3,5 billion dollars trade between our countries sufficient. As our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated, we believe that it should be increased to 5 billion dollars and then to 10 billion dollars as soon as possible. As Ankara Chamber of Commerce, we are ready to do all kinds of work in line with this goal.”
ANKARA-TASHKENT DIRECT FLIGHT
Stating that as Ankara Chamber of Commerce, they know the importance of direct transportation to improve the trade volume with Uzbekistan and that they have contacted Turkish Airlines for a direct flight from Esenboğa to Tashkent, Baran said, “THY is working on a flight that will connect Ankara with Uzbekistan directly.” . Baran stated that after Uzbekistan's approval, direct flights could start between Esenboğa and Tashkent.
Providing information about Ankara's economy during the visit, Baran said that medical production, which also includes pharmaceutical production, and defense and machinery industry production came to the fore. Baran also stated that Ankara is a target of development in tourism, especially in health.
Speaking during the visit, Vakhabov emphasized that Turkey and Uzbekistan have the same language and culture and said that they want to develop cooperation with Turkey. Noting that he started his duty two weeks ago, Vakhabov talked to the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and Ankara Chamber of Commerce, got information about the membership systems and the services offered to the members, and explained that they wanted to implement a similar model in Uzbekistan.
Noting that Turkey and Uzbekistan currently have a foreign trade volume of 3,5 billion dollars, Vakhabov said, "Our goal is to increase this figure to 5 billion dollars as soon as possible." Noting that there are more than 2 Turkish companies in Uzbekistan, Vakhabov asked ATO President Baran for support to develop cooperation in many areas of trade.
Explaining that they want the construction companies that make the organized industrial zones in Turkey to build an organized industrial zone in Uzbekistan, Vakhabov said that they plan to establish markets created for different products in Uzbekistan, which he saw in some provinces.
INVESTMENT IN PHARMACEUTICALS AND PHARMACY INDUSTRY
Noting that there are still enterprises operating in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical sector in Uzbekistan and they also carry out production, Vakhabov said, “There is production, but it is not enough for our 35 million people. We import 80 percent of the drugs we need. If anyone wants to invest in our country in this field, both Uzbekistan and our neighboring countries need it," he said.
COOPERATION WITH THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Vakhabov, who is also the owner of a company operating in the textile sector, said that Ankara is a developed province in the textile sector. Vakhabov said, “I would like to present my respects to the Turkish textile industry for its achievements. Uzbekistan is doing well in cotton and yarn production and we have 3,1 billion dollars worth of yarn and fabric exports. Our citizens, who worked alongside Turkish textile manufacturers in the 90's, are both producing and exporting in our country today. By cooperating with the textile industry, we can produce and export together. Our government has also provided new incentives in this area. Thanks to our cooperation, we can also improve our trade volume. Our culture is the same and it is possible for us to create a common system for production.”
Vakhabov gave information to ATO President Baran about the companies they contacted for cooperation in investment and production in the field of food and textile, and noted that tourists can be brought to the capital Ankara from Uzbekistan to benefit from thermal and health tourism.
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