Welcome speech by H.E. Mr. Dilyor Khakimov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the EU
Presentation of the EU Central Asia Strategy by Mr Boris Iarochevitch, Head of Central Asia Division, EEAS
Keynote address by Mr. Karsten Heinz, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Innovation of Uzbekistan
Investment opportunities in Uzbekistan :
- Ms Feruza Khodjaeva, Head of Department, Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Mr Timur Khikmatullaev, Leading Specialist, Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Mr Akmal Vasiev, Director, DGP Research and Consulting
Moderator : Mr. Axel Goethals, CEO, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS)
Followed by a networking reception with Uzbek cuisine.

Central Asia, Uzbekistan in particular, finds itself at a juncture in history. The EU has been gradually stepping up its engagement in this fast-changing, dynamic region, with the EU’s new Central Asia Strategy as a lodestar for forging an even stronger relationship. In combination with the EU Connectivity Strategy – Connecting Europe with Asia – this Central Asia Strategy induced a renewed interest in the region and brought Central Asia at the forefront of Europe’s external relations.

Since coming to power, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has passed a wide array of economic reforms and presidential decrees intending to liberalise and modernise the country’s economic structures. This paved the way for greater foreign investment, improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the economy in the process, as well as the business climate. Among the impressive array of macroeconomic reforms are currency liberalisation and a greater emphasis on private sector development.

This conference gathers a distinguished panel of EU and Uzbek government officials who will be discussing the EU Central Asia Strategy and the investment policies of Uzbekistan.