MINSK, 3 September (BelTA) – Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova took stock of the 3rd Belarus-Uzbekistan Women’s Business Forum, BelTA has learned.
She emphasized that the results of the forum were impressive, as they exceeded those of the previous two. “Thirty contracts worth Br261 million have been signed, along with 18 bilateral cooperation documents, including agreements aimed at fostering interaction between regions, which is very important for us. Certainly, it is also worth noting the effective work in the forum’s sections, where very important issues were discussed concerning relations and cooperation between our countries in industry, agriculture, healthcare, culture, and education,” the speaker said.
Natalya Kochanova remarked that this year’s focus was on local self‑government bodies, and one of the forum’s sections was dedicated specifically to this area. “We have experience that we can share with Uzbekistan,” she pointed out.
The speaker also highlighted the importance of events dedicated to youth policy, a roundtable discussion organized by the Belarusian Women’s Union, and, certainly, the business council.
“Given the strategic partnership between Belarus and Uzbekistan, we have set up an inter‑parliamentary cooperation commission, which envisages a higher level of interaction between members of the Council of the Republic and our colleagues from the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. In February 2024, our presidents gave instructions and signed a significant package of cooperation documents. We must do everything to ensure that the agreements reached at the highest level are fully implemented. These matters are being monitored by parliamentarians,” the chairwoman emphasized.
According to Natalya Kochanova, during the two‑day forum, the parties outlined further steps for interaction and promising areas of cooperation for the upcoming year.
Belarus and Uzbekistan cooperate in a wide range of areas, including science, innovation, technology, and demographic security, as they have planned. “We have a lot to learn from each other. In Belarus, there is strong support for families raising children. Uzbekistan has good indicators for population growth. We must demonstrate how our regulatory bodies that are directly involved in this work operate in this area, as well as public organizations that are interested in these issues,” she stressed.
Speaking about the development of bilateral relations, it is impossible not to mention economic cooperation. The contracts and agreements signed, the impressive sums involved, the networking and cooperation – these are the goals of holding such business forums. A total of 150 representatives of Uzbekistan’s business community came to Belarus.
“We are contributing to the advancement of the objectives set by the presidents of our countries. The government pays serious attention to this. Our parliaments are cooperating. At the government level, we have intergovernmental commissions. Nevertheless, the potential of parliamentarians is significant. We understand that much depends on us. First and foremost, it is our responsibility to ensure that there are no barriers to mutual trade and the creation of joint production facilities and businesses. Today, such businesses have already been established and are operating in Uzbekistan,” Natalya Kochanova concluded.
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