Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

From March 14 to 20, the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade organized the second monitoring visit of the European Commission delegation to Uzbekistan as part of the "GSP+" system.

The purpose of the visit was to discuss plans for further harmonization and simplification of trade procedures in line with the implementation of 27 international conventions ratified by Uzbekistan to maintain its status as a beneficiary of the "GSP+" system. Additionally, the visit aimed to explore measures to expand bilateral trade.

During the monitoring mission, the European Commission met with representatives from the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade; the Ministry of Justice. Meetings were also held with officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, and the Prosecutor General's Office. Furthermore, discussions took place with the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights and representatives of several non-governmental, non-profit organizations.

Throughout the meetings, European Commission representatives received detailed insights into the progress made and planned measures to align national legislation with international convention requirements.

European representatives acknowledged the reforms undertaken under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan. These include the development of a state system based on human rights guarantees, large-scale initiatives to stimulate entrepreneurial activity, efforts to enhance economic transparency, and improvements in the population’s standard of living. These reforms are expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

At the conclusion of the visit, the European Union’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, emphasized that the GSP+ beneficiary status remains a key instrument for diversifying trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and the EU.

During negotiations, the Ministry proposed measures to simplify trade procedures, ensuring the effective use of GSP+ benefits and aligning local products with EU requirements.

Following the meetings, an agreement was reached with the European Commission to enhance cooperation within the GSP+ framework, implement bilateral initiatives to streamline trade procedures, and integrate international convention requirements into national legislation.

Background

On April 10, 2021, Uzbekistan was granted beneficiary status under the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+). This status allows the country to export more than 6,200 types of goods to the European market without customs duties.

Leveraging these opportunities, Uzbekistan’s exports to EU countries reached $1.4 billion in 2024, nearly tripling over the past four years.

Beyond offering trade benefits, the GSP+ system also imposes obligations on beneficiary countries. Uzbekistan is required to comply with 27 international conventions ratified under the GSP+ framework. In accordance with EU regulations, the European Commission monitors beneficiary countries’ adherence to these conventions.