President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to pay a state visit to France

At the invitation of President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to this country on March 11-13.

The agenda of the visit to Paris envisages talks and events at the highest level, as well as a number of meetings with official and business circles of France.

The agenda of the upcoming contacts includes issues of further development and strengthening of Uzbek-French multifaceted relations.

Priority attention will be given to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade-economic and investment-financial spheres, promoting cooperation projects with leading companies and enterprises of France.

It is planned to adopt a package of intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements as a result of the summit.

In addition, the Head of our state will meet with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to discuss practical aspects of preparing and holding the 43rd session of the Organization’s General Conference in Samarkand this autumn.

It is worth noting the intense program of events on the eve of the forthcoming visit.

Uzbekistan-France: Synergy for Progress

On March 11-13, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.

France, a highly developed industrial and agricultural nation, holds a leading global position in industrial output. Its economic prowess places it among the world’s top seven economies. A nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France also plays a pivotal role within the European Union and on the broader international stage.

France recognized Uzbekistan’s independence on January 3, 1992, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 1, 1992. This burgeoning relationship was further cemented with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on October 27, 1993.

The momentum of political dialogue and multifaceted cooperation has been notably strengthened through President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visits to France in October 2018 and November 2022, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Uzbekistan in November 2023.

During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Paris in November 2022, the two leaders committed to elevating their relationship to a comprehensive partnership of the highest level.

Uzbekistan-France collaboration spans a wide range of sectors at the interagency level. On November 2, 2023, in the presence of both presidents, a series of cooperation documents were signed, including agreements in education, cultural heritage, and drinking water infrastructure improvement.

Moreover, during the visit to Samarkand on November 2, 2023, the announcement was made regarding the intention to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Discussions focused on fostering major new projects in “green” energy, raw material extraction and processing, innovative agriculture, water supply, logistics, infrastructure development, and tourism.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation thrives through delegation exchanges, the work of friendship groups in both parliaments, and participation in international events organized by inter-parliamentary unions and multilateral parliamentary bodies. This interaction fosters the sharing of experiences, the discussion of global and regional issues, and the strengthening of multilateral cooperation.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and France conduct regular political consultations, with the fifteenth round held on May 27, 2024. During these consultations, diplomats from both countries discuss the current state of Uzbek-French relations, the implementation of agreements reached during high-level reciprocal visits, and the expansion of the legal framework for cooperation. They also exchange views on international and regional issues, as well as the schedule and agenda for upcoming joint events at various levels.

Uzbekistan and France also engage in effective cooperation within international structures and organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to contributing to the strengthening of security, peace, and stability at the global and regional levels. France is prepared to further support Uzbekistan’s endeavors to enhance trust in Central Asia, its accession to the World Trade Organization, and the expedited signing of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union.

Both nations share a mutual interest in bolstering trade, economic, and investment partnerships. The conducive business environment and investment prospects cultivated in Uzbekistan are attracting an increasing number of French businesses. In return, Uzbekistan is eager to attract French technologies and leverage advanced expertise in industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as to expand mutual tourism exchanges. Uzbekistan’s attainment of beneficiary status under the European Union’s “GSP+” preferential system has unlocked new avenues for boosting trade and economic ties. In 2024, bilateral trade volume increased by nearly 14% compared to the previous year, reaching almost 1.2 billion US dollars. Currently, 50 enterprises with French participation operate in Uzbekistan, including 23 with 100% French capital.

World-class companies such as “Total Eren,” “Veolia,” “EDF,” “Orano,” “Lactalis,” “Carrefour,” and “Shiever” are actively operating in Uzbekistan within the fields of energy, geological exploration, the food industry, and retail. The French Development Agency (AFD) is involved in projects aimed at the development of urban infrastructure, the “green” economy, sanitation, hydropower, and agriculture in Uzbekistan. In November 2022, a Cooperation Program with the AFD for 2023-2025 was signed, providing for the implementation of projects totaling 1 billion euros.

The Uzbek-French business forum held in Samarkand in November 2023 and in Paris in May 2024, which brought together leaders from 60 French companies, along with the bilateral business forum with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF International), and the agreements signed at their conclusion, have further underscored the strong mutual interest in expanding business cooperation.