Tbilisi (GBC) – Uzbek Transport Minister Ilhom Mahkamov said on November 27 that Georgia and Uzbekistan have great potential for deepening economic ties and close cooperation in various sectors. The minister placed special emphasis on the importance and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the process of developing the Middle Corridor.

According to Ilhom Mahkamov, the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investment Forum and the meeting of transport ministers of the European Union, Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region held within its framework are important for the countries, including Georgia and Uzbekistan, in terms of deepening trade and economic ties.

The Minister emphasized the importance of Georgia as a maritime country in terms of connectivity between Central Asia and the European Union. According to him, close and effective communication between Uzbekistan and Georgia is very important in terms of creating new transport corridors, diversified routes and developing existing ones.

The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan also spoke about the prospects for cooperation between Georgia and Uzbekistan in the tourism sector, which is characterized by growing dynamics, as well as the existing air traffic between the two countries. In addition, he said that it is important that direct flights are being operated between Tbilisi and Tashkent. According to Ilhom Mahkamov, all this contributes to the deepening of economic ties between the two countries.

A forum was held in Tashkent within the framework of the “Global Gateway” initiative.

Georgia is also participating in the forum. The delegation includes: Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili and her deputies; Tamar Ioseliani and Genadi Arveladze.

The goal of the forum is to strengthen the EU's cooperation with partner countries along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor to facilitate transport links between Europe and Asia.