Team Europe Mission to Surkhandarya region
On 12th March, the delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated Kizirik Technical college of Agriculture, along with UNESCO Representative in Uzbekistan Ms. Sarah Noshadi and First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Mr. Komiljon Karimov. The college was renovated thanks to the EU funded UNESCO implemented project on Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan. The project aims at boosting Technical and Vocational education in Uzbekistan and at developing the human capital of the country.
EU funded UNESCO project
On that day, the Ambassadors’ Team Europe delegation had a fruitful meeting at the Khokimiyat of Surkhandarya region to discuss investment opportunities, the Free Trade Zone, and cooperation projects. In her welcoming speech H.E. Charlotte Adriaen, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan said:
“I am very happy, for my sixth mission to Termez, to come along with six Ambassadors. It is a sign of great interest and commitment from the EU and its Member States for the social, cultural and economic development of the Surkhandarya region.”
EU in Uzbekistan
On 13 March the delegation visited a textile company and discussed with the local business community about opportunities offered by the General System of Preferences + (GSP+). GSP+ is the EU main trade policy tool to support developing countries’ exports to the EU. When granted GSP+ status, a country can export more than 6,000 types of good tax free to the European market. Since Uzbekistan acceded to GSP+ its exports to the EU have seen a historic boost. Between 2019 and 2022, the value of goods imported to the EU from Uzbekistan under GSP+ has more than quadrupled, reaching more than 450 million euros in 2022. (Almost one euro per European consumer). Uzbek export of GSP+ eligible goods was 93 million euros in 2019, it was – 450 million euros in 2022.
Following a visit of several UNESCO cultural heritage sites in the region, the Ambassadors also had a presentation and an exchange with UN Agencies - UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, IOM - at the Termez Cargo Center on humanitarian assistance delivered to Afghanistan and to Afghans in Sukhandarya.
EU in Uzbekistan
Since 2023 the EU has been funding “Empowerment of vulnerable communities through building effective and sustainable civil society” project implemented by Civic Initiatives Support Centre. During the mission, the Ambassadors had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the achievement of the project and meet with the local director and beneficiaries of the project.
The European Union established relations with Uzbekistan after the country’s independence in 1991. The EU provides financial assistance to Uzbekistan, primarily for promoting economic development. 71 million euros were allocated for 2007-2013 and 168 million euros for 2014-2020. The EU's priority areas and sectors for 2021-2027 are: effective governance and digital transformation; inclusive, digital and green growth; development of effective eco-friendly agriculture and food sector.