At the Congress Center in Samarkand, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni held face-to-face talks, followed by negotiations involving official delegations.

The talks focused on further developing the bilateral strategic partnership and expanding multifaceted cooperation.

It was noted with satisfaction that the agreements reached during the high-level meetings in Rome in June 2023 are being successfully implemented.

Trade turnover has nearly tripled in recent years due to the diversification of the goods supplied.

The number of joint ventures and projects has doubled. Cooperation has been established with Italyʼs leading companies in metallurgy, electrical engineering, agriculture, livestock, tourism, and other sectors.

Uzbekistanʼs delegation actively participated in the Venice Biennale, and an exhibition was held in Florence. In December of last year, Days of Uzbek Culture were held in Rome and Viareggio.

Branches of the Universities of Turin and Pisa are successfully operating in Uzbekistan. The second rectorsʼ forum, held in April, was noted as productive.

The two sides supported the continuation of active political exchanges.

With reference to the successful summit hosted in Samarkand this April, the parties agreed to further strengthen cooperation with European Union institutions. The importance of holding a “Central Asia–Italy” summit focused on practical outcomes was emphasized.

The parties agreed to expand technical assistance programs for businesses in the trade sector. These include training Uzbek exporters to access the European Union market, establishing a joint certification center in Tashkent, and accelerating the adoption of an agreement on conformity assessment.

The President of Uzbekistan proposed launching a Technological Partnership Program with leading Italian companies.

Priorities include innovative private-sector projects, deep processing of critical minerals and agricultural raw materials, production of components for the automotive industry, manufacturing of high-tech products in the electrical engineering, energy, food, pharmaceutical, and construction industries as well as the establishment of design centers for the textile, leather, furniture, and other industries.

Such projects may be located in an industrial park to be established in the Tashkent Region under the management of a European operator.

To launch new mechanisms for project support, the creation of a joint investment fund will be considered, along with the involvement of Italian state agencies “SACE” and “SIMEST.”

Special attention was given to developing broad scientific and technological cooperation in agriculture, based on a comprehensive roadmap. Prospects for cooperation were noted in growing grapes, olives, saffron, and asparagus; establishing agro-laboratories; developing biotechnologies; and introducing agricultural insurance.

To promote new projects, it was agreed to revive the work of the Intergovernmental Group and to hold its meeting alongside a business forum.

As part of expanding partnership relations between the regions of Uzbekistan and Italy, the importance of achieving practical outcomes during the upcoming visit of Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana and the first forum of the regions was emphasized.

In the field of education, plans to open a branch of Tuscia University in Uzbekistan and to launch dual-degree programs with the Universities of Pisa, Trento, Roma Tre, and CaʼFoscari received support.

The parties also agreed to hold Days of Italian Culture in Uzbekistan.

An agreement on establishing structured cooperation in labor migration was signed during the visit.

Following the meeting, a decision was made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the agreements reached.