The Prime minister of Malaysia Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi arrived with an official visit to Uzbekistan on 16 November.

On the following day, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and Malaysian Prime minister held face-to-face talks. They considered issues of development of bilateral political relations, expansion of economic and humanitarian cooperation, as well as regional and international issues.

Islam Karimov and Abdullah Badawi also discussed cooperation within ASEAN and OIC, as well as the situation in Afghanistan.

At the talks of the official delegations of the two countries with participation of Islam Karimov and Abdullah Badawi, issues of trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation were discussed.

The sides said both countries were not fully utilizing their potential in bilateral economic relations. Exports from Uzbekistan mainly consist of transport and tourist services. Imports from Malaysia include electronic equipment, palm oil, rubber items etc.

The investment cooperation is developing intensively. Currently there are 22 enterprises created with Malaysian capital in Uzbekistan. They work in the oil and gas sector (UzMalOil, Petronas Carigali Operating Company), textile, furniture industries and provide financial services.

Petronas corporation is conducting geological research in the Aral sea area, at the Ustyurt plateau and in Surkhandarya. The Malaysian company is expected to invest up to USD 2 billion in Uzbekistan.

The delegations discussed ways to increase the volumes of trade and the number of joint ventures. Other considered issues were using Malaysian biotechnologies, cooperation in processing agricultural products, as well as opening manufacture of equipment and electronics in Uzbekistan.

In order to develop cooperation in transport communications, Islam Karimov proposed the Malaysian side to use the international logistics center in Navoi. This would open the way to Central Asian markets to Malaysia.

At the end of the negotiations, the governments of Uzbekistan and Malaysia signed a Joint communiqu?. Also signed were intergovernmental memorandums on cooperation in higher education and scientific and technical cooperation.

The national holding company Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas Carigali signed a memorandum on cooperation in preparation of specialists in oil and gas. Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas Carigali Overseas inked the protocol on launching the production sharing agreement on conducting geological research works at Surkhan investment block.

On 18 November, Prime minister of Malaysia accompanied by Prime minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Samarkand. The high guest familiarized himself with the historical sights of the city and modern objects.

Uza.uz