In an exclusive interview with Daryo correspondent, Türkiye's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Olgan Bekar, revealed that Türkiye supports Uzbekistan's initiative to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Ambassador believes that this move will not only enhance foreign trade but also improve the competitiveness of Uzbekistan's products in the global market.
Ambassador Bekar also discussed the factors that have helped boost bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Türkiye; he credited the solid and respectful partnership, the preferential trade agreement, and the inclusion of bilateral relations as a component of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) for the significant development in strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Olgan Bekar, a number of countries have expressed support for Uzbekistan's WTO accession. What is Türkiye's position regarding this?
Türkiye supports Uzbekistan's initiative to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Our mission in Geneva frequently interacts with the Uzbek delegation and assists in resolving any arising questions. We also provide recommendations on how the country can become a member of the WTO. We believe that if Uzbekistan quickly becomes a member, it would benefit both countries. We are happy to see the progress and growth of Uzbekistan, and we believe some areas can be further developed. Recently, Uzbekistan has been raising energy issues. The energy sector is essential, and it is necessary to continue attracting investments. Another way to address this is by increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on products, especially cotton textiles, as it can be very profitable. It is also essential to develop domestic brands as other countries, including Türkiye, have done. Promoting such brands can lead to significant revenue in the metallurgy, copper, iron industry and agriculture sectors. The agro-products market is gaining momentum worldwide, and fruits of a certain quality and brand can be sold in Europe. Membership in the WTO will facilitate the selling of products in the world market. We will always support Uzbekistan through our Türkiye's investments and even our investments through third countries. We are committed to supporting you in this endeavour.
What can speed up Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization?
Joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) is complex and gradual. Uzbekistan is making efforts to become a member of the organization by increasing the country's volume and making products competitive. However, becoming a member of the WTO requires the private sector to create favourable conditions. The legislative framework must be established, which is a challenging task. Despite this, Uzbekistan is taking all necessary measures to join the WTO. The government will always support specific sectors of the economy to ensure the welfare of the people of Uzbekistan.
Nevertheless, the external competition is sometimes unfair. In this regard, the state will support some of its areas, but the ultimate goal is to offer competitive products to the international market. As Uzbekistan becomes a WTO member, it will adapt to new conditions and institutionalize its laws. Negotiating with the EU and other countries will involve compromise. Uzbekistan has successfully conducted such negotiations in the past six years and gained experience.
Ambassador Olgan Bekar, what do you think has helped boost bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Türkiye?
Our strategic cooperation with Uzbekistan is developing significantly. The results of our economic cooperation in the last six years have tripled, reaching $3.5bn in 2022. We hope that this year's results will be similar. It's worth noting that our mutual trade is balanced, with almost equal imports and exports contributing to the $3.5bn total. This success is due to the solid and respectful relationship between our Presidents, which has been a key factor in our economic cooperation.
We aim to achieve a mutual trade turnover of $5bn and eventually $10bn. To achieve this, we have signed a preferential trade agreement and have included bilateral relations as a component of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). We are working hard to harmonize the services of our ministries and agencies to ensure the OTS includes its own, which will help us reach our goal, especially in economic terms.
Uzbekistan recently held its annual film festival, featuring participation from Turkish filmmakers. What are the plans for future cultural exchange?
There are various ways to improve cultural and educational ties between countries, and it doesn't always have to involve official institutions. For instance, we can observe the exchange of artists between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, with more to come. We can also see how Turkish movies and TV shows are being watched by many Uzbek people, allowing them to learn Turkish more easily.
Shortly, we will continue to work closely with Uzbekistan not only in the fields of cinema and art but also in other educational and cultural areas. We plan to organize various activities to strengthen our partnership, such as exhibitions. We also know that the Ankara Embassy of Uzbekistan actively promotes cultural events in Türkiye.
Earlier, Daryo reported that on October 28, Türkiye's Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, held a press conference to mark the annual Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) celebration that is observed in the transcontinental country on October 29. During the event, Ambassador Olgan Bekar provided a vivid insight into the historical significance of Türkiye's national holiday and its origins.
This year marks the centenary of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, which is a significant occasion. It has been a hundred years since its inception, and the Republic of Türkiye has made remarkable progress from its initial state. It is important to remember and pay tribute to those who founded our Republic and honour their legacy. Our Republic has been on the path of development and modernization since its inception, aiming to create a modern Turkish nation. The current level of progress of our nation is a testament to the correctness of the path laid out by our founders,
Ambassador said.
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