Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposes eliminating trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures between SCO member states

“The issues of strengthening cooperation in the economic sphere require special attention. Our main goal is to revive trade-economic ties and industrial cooperation,” the President said.

Mirziyoyev is confident that the most effective way to achieve it is to implement joint anti-crisis programs, which provide for:

- elimination of barriers in mutual trade;

- simplification of customs procedures, their harmonization and digitalization;

- development of e-commerce between member states;

- encouragement of mutual investments.

The President proposed to develop new, non-standard approaches to strengthen trade-economic and investment ties in the context of the pandemic.

“They should become the basis of the SCO plan to implement the program of trade-economic cooperation. It is important to develop concrete measures to realize the program of cooperation in the field of food security,” he said.

Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan is in favor of adopting a program to stimulate industrial cooperation between the business circles of the countries.

He also said that the pandemic has accelerated the digitalization process. Information technologies are becoming a “driver” of economic growth.

The President proposed to work out a program for the development of digital literacy, aimed at educating the population, training specialists on the basis of agreed curricula.

In addition, according to the head of state, in the current conditions, it is important to direct joint efforts to support the needy segments of the population and reduce poverty.

“To coordinate our interaction in this area, I consider it necessary to create a mechanism for meetings of heads of ministries and departments responsible for combating poverty,” he said.

Mirziyoyev put forward the initiative to develop a program of cooperation between the SCO member states in this direction, as well as to hold an international forum in Uzbekistan to agree on coordinated measures for its implementation.

“I am confident that the successful experience of the People’s Republic of China would be useful in implementing this initiative,” he concluded.