CAIRO – 22 January 2024: Uzbek Ambassador in Cairo Mansurbek Kilichev has underscored the important role played by Egypt to broker a pause of war in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gazans.
Uzbekistan is for a comprehensive solution to the current crisis, Kilichev said in statements Monday. This solution should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, the diplomat said, noting that this would be in line with relevant international legitimacy resolutions.
Kilichev said his country strongly supports the Palestinian people and their right to establish their independent state.
Uzbek President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev has allocated 1.5 million dollars for UNRWA activities in Gaza, the diplomat told MENA.
On Tuesday, Egypt and Uzbekistan will mark 32 years of diplomatic relations. Egypt is an important partner of Uzbekistan in the Middle East and Arica, Kilichev said.
He added that Tashkent and Cairo maintain close political dialogue and economic cooperation based on mutual benefits.
Mirziyoyev’s visit to Egypt in February 2023 has greatly contributed to upgrading the level of cooperation between the two countries, Kilichev said.
It was a historic visit, during which the two sides sealed 10 deals, including two to develop the infrastructure of tourism and pharmaceutical industry, the diplomat made it clear.
He also touched upon joint ventures in the field of agriculture, as well as investment projects worth some 1.6 billion dollars that were signed during a businessmen’s forum on the fringe of Mirziyoyev’s visit last year.
In December, Malika Kadirkhanova, the chairperson of the Uzbek Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis, held talks with Egypt’s Senate Undersecretary Phoebe Fawzy on means of boosting parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, Kilichev said.
The diplomat added that Uzbekistan and Egypt are currently working on 11 documents of cooperation to be signed during the 7th meeting of their joint government committee scheduled for the first half of 2024 in Tashkent.
Egypt’s Nile Sugar Co. has already started an investment project to cultivate sugar beet in the Jizan Region, Kilichev said, pointing out that the crop should be planted over 50,000 hectares. He added that a sugar factory will also be established over 100 hectares to produce 200,000 tons annually.
Moreover, E2 Metals Limited is working on a mineral exploration project in Uzbekistan, the diplomat said.
Asked about trade exchange between the two countries, Kilichev said it increased by 60 percent in 2023, reaching some 50 million dollars up from 30 million dollars the year before.
He also talked about tourism to Egypt, pointing out that about 40,000 Uzbeks visited the Arab country last year. About 2,000 Egyptian tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2023, the ambassador noted. Kilichev said his country is seeking to benefit from Egypt’s know-how to attract more tourists.
Tashkent and Cairo have signed a 2023-2025 plan to boost tourism cooperation and provide training for travel guides and simultaneous interpreters, he noted.
The plan also aims to promote travel to tourist sites in both Uzbekistan and Egypt, Kilichev added
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