Belarus plans to increase exports of pharmaceutical products to Uzbekistan
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
Over the past 26 years, Uzbekistan and Belarus have built close cooperation on a bilateral and multilateral basis.
The growing interest of Belarusian companies in expanding trade and economic cooperation with Uzbekistan is due to deep reforms in the business sphere, the introduction of free currency conversion and a significant reduction in customs duties.
Belarus plans to seriously increase the export of pharmaceutical products to the Uzbek market, Minister of Health Valery Malashko told reporters after a meeting with a delegation of the Ministry of Health of this country, BelTA informs.
"If last year we delivered pharmaceutical products for $ 2.6 million, then I think that we will receive about $ 4.7 million by the results of this visit in 2019. It is very important that we have entered into the practice of creating joint ventures - this makes it possible to supply semi-products not only to Uzbekistan, but also to third countries, and this is an expansion of the sales market for our enterprises," said Malashko.
The Uzbek Minister of Health Alisher Shadmanov noted that the meeting discussed ways of joint partnership in the pharmaceutical industry. He said the Belarusian pharmaceutical products have a large share in the Uzbek market.
The purpose of the visit of the Uzbek delegation set to study the experience of the Belarusian health care. In particular, it is of interest how the process of healthcare management is improved, the provision of primary and specialized high-tech medical aid, how the work on training, retraining and advanced training of personnel is structured.
“Belarus is indeed the leader in the region for the protection of motherhood and childhood. Such indicators have been observed for many years,” added Shadmanov.
The visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan to Minsk on March 25-28 takes place in continuation of the agreement between the relevant departments of the two countries. It was signed in Tashkent in September 2018 following the talks of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
It is planned to visit the leading Republican Practical Scientific and Practical Center, pharmaceutical enterprises, as well as the Belarusian State Medical University.
Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan were established on January 21, 1993.
Countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations by the joint issue of a post stamp.
The trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Belarus in January-November 2018 amounted to $ 145.2 million, which is 28.5 percent more compared to the same period in 2017.
The Uzbek exports to Belarus mainly consist of vegetables and fruits, dried fruits, cotton, cars and clothing. Belarus supplies the Central Asian republic with tractors, road and construction equipment, medicines, epoxy resins, chassis with engines for cars, oil products and meat.
Both countries planned to increase trade to $ 500 million by 2020. Given the current growth rate, the goal looks quite feasible. This task is planned to be solved thanks to the development of cooperation in such areas as mechanical engineering, the agro-industrial complex, construction and health care.
In addition, in September 2018 Belarus and Uzbekistan launched a joint production of medical drugs. In addition, last year was marked by a number of new bilateral projects. Belarusian holdings Amkodor and Bobruiskagromash created joint ventures for the production of road-building and agricultural equipment in the Central Asian republic. The famous Minsk Tractor Works launched a joint tractor production in Tashkent.
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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94
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