Azernews.Az

TASHKENT – Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a number of agreements after the session of the intergovernmental commission on cooperation, UzDaily.com news website reported.

The deals envisage cooperation and exchange of information on taxes, humanitarian aid, further development of trade and economic and scientific cooperation, and railway transport.

The package also includes agreements on environmental protection and on information and communication technologies.

Discussions focused on ways of increasing bilateral trade and the number of traded goods as well as establishing new joint ventures.

Participants exchanged views on expanding cooperation in the financial and banking sector and increasing interaction between small businesses and private entrepreneurs to boost ties between Azerbaijani and Uzbek businessmen.

Speakers noted that implementing the joint economic cooperation program, slated for 2011-2015, due to to be signed during the Azerbaijani president’s visit to Tashkent on September 27-28, will allow boosting trade between the two countries and overall economic relations.

Uzbek media reported that bilateral trade turnover made up $46.3 million in 2009. Up to 40 companies with Azerbaijani capital are operating in the Central Asian state, including three that are fully owned by Azerbaijani businessmen.