OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2013. The eleventh joint session of Uzbek-Japanese committee on economic cooperation was held in Tashkent.

The event was organized within the visit of the delegation of Japanese businesses led by Marubeni Corporation Mamoru Sekiyama to Uzbekistan.

Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese committees on economic cooperation play important role in developing bilateral relations between two states. The agreement on cooperation between two committees was signed in May 1994 during the visit of the Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Japan. Ten session of the committee were held so far and last one took place in Tokyo in February 2011.

Uzbekistan considers Japan as strategic partner and pays great attention to development of cooperation with the country. Financial-economic assistance of Japan to Uzbekistan play important role in gradual economic reforms in the Central Asian state.

The Uzbek-Japanese Business Forum has been conducted on regular basis since 2006. Business forums were held in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Uzbekistan and Japan signed agreement on support and protection of investments, which came into force on 24 September 2009.

The sides are actively cooperating within technical aid line. Japanese specialists help Uzbekistan to develop feasibility studies of investment projects and researches. Uzbek specialists undergo short-term and mid-term internship in various directions in Japan.

Japanese companies – Mitsui and Co. Ltd, Mitsubishi Corporation, Marubeni, Itochu Corporation, Isuzu Motors, Sumitomo Corporation and others – have been successfully operating in Uzbekistan.

Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Japan made up US4.7 million in 2012, the press service of Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan said.

Currently, some 11 enterprises with Japanese investments work in Uzbekistan, of which one was created due to 100% Japanese capital. They work in such areas as trade operations, transport, tourism, healthcare, machinery, metal processing and light industry.

About 14 Japanese firms accredited their offices in Tashkent. They operate in such areas as export-import operations, supply of equipment, etc.