OREANDA-NEWS. November 12, 2009. The forum of business circles of Uzbekistan and Japan was held at the Tashkent’s International Business Center, reported the Official website gov.uz.

The first deputy minister of economy of Uzbekistan G.Saidova and the advisor of the Ministry of economy, trade and industry of Japan Yochi Kato said the trade and economic cooperation between the two states was developing steadily.

In 2002, the countries signed a Joint statement on friendship, strategic partnership and cooperation. Japan has widely supported reforms implemented in various spheres in Uzbekistan.

Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek economic cooperation committees hold regular meetings. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have their representative offices in Tashkent.

The total volume of Japanese investments in Uzbekistan since the establishment of economic ties has made up about USD 2 billion.

In particular, within the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistance program, USD 910 million was issued, and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) provided commercial credits worth USD 721 million.

Currently, more than 10 large projects are being implemented in Uzbekistan with the participation of Japanese investments.

The participants of the business forum familiarized with the privatization process in Uzbekistan, reforms in the economy, in the small and private business sector, as well as the creation of the Navoi free industrial zone.