French President Emmanuel Macron is set to embark on an official visit to Uzbekistan on November 1-2, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations, strengthening economic cooperation, and celebrating the flourishing cultural ties between the two nations.
Uzbekistan and France have already established a robust economic partnership. Currently, 47 enterprises, including 17 with 100% French investments, operate in Uzbekistan, spanning various sectors such as geological exploration, energy, construction materials, the automotive industry, and tourism. Notable French companies such as Veolia, Suez, EDF, Total Eren, and Airbus are actively involved in the Uzbek market, contributing to its development.
The French Development Agency, which has had a presence in Tashkent since 2018, is actively working on projects worth over €1bn under the Cooperation Program for 2023-2025, strengthening economic ties further.
Furthermore, cultural exchange between France and Uzbekistan is flourishing. The Uzbek-French multidisciplinary university is in the works, with contributions from a consortium of French universities. There is also a significant focus on the French language, literature, and culture in Uzbekistan, with approximately 200,000 pupils and students studying French. Thirteen universities offer departments dedicated to French studies, forging strong academic ties with their French counterparts.
Over the past five years, trade relations between Uzbekistan and France have surged to an impressive total of $1.43bn. This period has witnessed substantial growth, commencing at $257.2mn in 2017 and reaching $280.8mn in 2021. While exports experienced a decline to $670.9mn, imports showed remarkable expansion, soaring to $259.9mn. This significant uptick can be attributed primarily to the acquisition of aviation equipment, essential machinery, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and various other commodities.
Furthermore, it's noteworthy that Uzbekistan's attainment of the GSP+ beneficiary status in 2021 facilitated a discernible uptick in exports, especially in the realm of fruit and vegetable products, such as nuts, textile goods, carpets, and specific electrical products.
In recent years, various inter-university connections have been established, further strengthening academic collaboration. These connections have extended to prestigious institutions in France, including the universities of Paris-Sud, Sorbonne, University of Grenoble, and many others.
On the political front, diplomatic relations between France and Uzbekistan date back to March 1, 1992, and have evolved through the years. France's involvement in Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, contributed to enhancing political dialogue with Tashkent. Despite a temporary cooling of relations due to European sanctions (2005-2009), regular political dialogue and cooperation projects have since reignited the relationship.
This visit from President Macron comes after the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited Paris in 2022, further solidifying the friendship between the two nations. The main events of the visit include exhibitions at the Louvre Museum and the Arab World Institute, showcasing the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.
Culturally, the Alliance Française branch in Tashkent is a pivotal agency for linguistic and cultural outreach. It promotes the French language and culture in Uzbekistan, offering French courses and a rich cultural program, including meetings, exhibitions, performances, and more.
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