“We see a strong potential for trade and investment cooperation in relations with Uzbek and Turkmen partners,” added the deputy minister.

On Monday, 1 July, Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz met with his Uzbek counterpart, Dilshod Akhatov. The deputy chiefs of diplomacy of Poland and Uzbekistan agreed that there has been a significant intensification of bilateral contacts in recent years, which has measurably translated into increased trade. Warsaw and Tashkent see a great potential that should be tapped into in the economy, including for example the agri-food, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. 

“Uzbekistan remains Poland’s major partner in Central Asia not only in the economic but also in the political sphere. The changes taking place in the country under the presidency of  Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including in particular measures to liberalise the economy and attract foreign investment, mean that there are favourable conditions for further intensification of our relations,” observed Deputy Minister Przydacz. Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Trade Laziz Kudratov also stressed that Uzbekistan is keenly interested in developing trade and investment cooperation with Poland. 

Also discussed was regional and international policy. The officials furthermore discussed the new EU Strategy on Central Asia adopted in June, which will provide a valuable complement to measures taken at the bilateral level. The deputy chief of Polish diplomacy underlined that Poland intends to play an active part in the implementation of the document, particularly in the field of education.

While in Uzbekistan, the deputy minister also visited the Olmazor I and Olmazor III cemeteries in Samarcanda, the resting places of General Anders Army soldiers and civilian refugees, visited the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tashkent, and met with the local Polish diaspora.

Next, the deputy head of the Polish MFA paid a visit to Ashgabat for talks with, among others, Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajyyev. During their talks, the politicians agreed that there are a number of areas such as energy, the economy, culture, and education, in which Polish-Turkmen relations could be intensified. “We see a potential for the development of relations with Turkmenistan,” underlined Deputy Minister Przydacz. “We appreciate the regional importance of Turkmenistan, a neutral state neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan,” he added.

Deputy Minister Przydacz also thanked the Turkmen for keeping the memory of Polish soldiers from the Anders Army. “Cherishing the memory of Polish soldiers in Central Asia and looking after their resting places is a matter that is dear to our hearts,” emphasised the Polish deputy foreign minister.  

 

MFA Press Office