Lindemann Law

JOURNAL ABOUT OUR BUSINESS MISSION TO UZBEKISTAN

– Energy, Manufacturing, Logistics & Infrastructure –

15th November – 17th November, 2022 TASHKENT

 

Impressions of the Last Day

On our last day, we took the high speed train to Samarkand for a day trip. We explored this beautiful city with a guide. The delegates also had the opportunity to attend the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference today. Unfortunately our Business Mission to Uzbekistan is coming to an end. We look back on an exciting and interesting time together, in which we were able to provide the delegates with the most important information with which they can evaluate a possible entry into the Uzbek market.

Impressions of the Fourth day

We have again today provided our delegates with essential information with which they can evaluate a possible entry into the Uzbek market. In the business forum and meetings with financial partners, including local banks (foreign and Uzbek), for example, Commerzbank, Credit Suisse, EBRD, Asian Development Bank and international financial institutions and Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV, the delegates could get in touch with relevant financing partners. Through these meetings, we enabled them again to expand their network of key decisionmakers and business contacts. We then finished this interesting day with a gala dinner with local, Swiss and international entrepreneurs.

Alexander Lindenmann with the Swiss Ambassador Konstantin Obolensky

Impressions of the Third Day

Today’s focus was to help the delegates develop a network of key decisionmakers and business contacts. This was achieved by visiting renowned companies. Through meetings with C-level representatives of Swiss and European companies in Uzbekistan and successful Uzbek entrepreneurs, delegates were able to expand their network, meet potential joint venture partners and learn about their experiences.

Impressions of the Second Day

After yesterday’s get-together, we enjoyed today the first full day of our Business Mission to Uzbekistan. It started with an official welcome by the Government of Uzbekistan. The rest of the day was filled with exciting presentations by independent and local experts, who gave an introduction to why Uzbekistan is such a remarkable business destination. Delegates were introduced to how the country’s ambitious economic reform program and its large-scale plans to replace much of the hitherto fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure with renewable energy production has radically improved business conditions. It was also shown why this change offers multiple business opportunities for Swiss companies. A perfect end to our day was the joint dinner with the Ambassador of Switzerland to Uzbekistan.

Alexander Lindemann with Artur Czerniejewski from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Impressions of the First Day

We are happy to be holding our Business Mission to Uzbekistan again this year in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We are looking forward to exciting presentations that will show delegates the latest economic developments in Uzbekistan and explore new business opportunities in the following sectors:

➢ Energy – Renewables and green technologies
➢ Infrastructure – Transportation (roads, ports), water and wastewater management
➢ Manufacturing
➢ Logistics

Today we were able to welcome 25 delegates at an informal apero. It was very exciting to meet everyone and the conversations we had were extremely interesting.

Purpose of the Mission

First, to show participants the latest economic developments in Uzbekistan and explore new business opportunities in the following sectors;
➢ Energy – Renewables and green technologies
➢ Infrastructure – Transportation (roads, ports), water and wastewater management
➢ Manufacturing
➢ Logistics

Second, to help participant develop a network of key decisionmakers and business contacts on the ground through meetings with…
➢ Swiss and European companies in Uzbekistan and hear about their experiences,
➢ Successful Uzbek entrepreneurs as potential joint-venture partners,
➢ Government representatives
➢ Relevant financing partners such as EBRD, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Uzbek Sovereign Wealth Fund and international and local banks to secure project funding

Third, this will provide participants with essential information with which to evaluate a possible entry into the Uzbek market.

Why Uzbekistan?

Since 2016 Uzbekistan has opened up and embarked on an ambitious economic reform program. Radically improved business conditions combined with the country’s large-scale plans to replace much of the hitherto fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure by renewable energy production offers multiple business opportunities for Swiss companies.

For the past half-decade Uzbekistan, with a population of 33 million Central Asia’s most populous country, has embarked on an ambitious economic reform agenda. Starting in 2016, the new President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has opened up the economy, stabilized the currency and reduced inflation. The reform agenda includes the energy sector, with a program of privatization, restructuring and deregulation. Accordingly, economic growth has been around 6% in 2019 and 2021, staying positive even during the advent of the pandemic in 2020.

With its young, well-educated population, the country has the potential to become a regional economic powerhouse. Although from a low starting point, the nation is well underway: Among other changes, liberalizing foreign exchange trade and lifting currency-conversion restrictions as well as simplified customs procedures have dramatically improved business conditions in the country. Citizens from most countries, including Switzerland, can enter the country visa-free.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has recently set ambitious goals for developing renewable energy, resulting in keen interest in and Government support for building a new solar and wind energy infrastructure.

Source: https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/

Program

14th November

Individual arrival in Tashkent, check-in at the centrally located Hotel Lotte next to the Alischer Nawoi Opera.

Optional: 18:00 – 22:00 Welcome drinks and warm up.

15th November

Official welcome by Government of Uzbekistan and introduction to reform programs. Introduction to Uzbekistan as a business destination with presentations by independent and local experts

07:00-08:30: Breakfast

08:30-09:00: Transfer to the Agency for Strategic Reform of Uzbekistan

09:00-10:30: Meeting with the General Director of Agency for Strategic Reforms Mr. Shukhrat Vafaev

10:30-10:45: Transfer to the Ministry for Investments and Foreign Trade (MIFT) of the Republic of Uzbekistan

10:45-11:45: Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Mr. Laziz Kudratov

11:45-12:00: Transfer to the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) under MIFT

12:00-13:00: Joint meeting with the Director of IPA Mr. Ulugbek Kasimkhodjaev and the Head EBRD Uzbekistan Mr. Alkis Drakinos

13:00-14:00: Lunch break (place TBC)

14:00-14:15: Transfer to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan

14:15-15:15: Meeting with the First Deputy Minister of Energy Mr. Azim Akhmedkhajaev

15:15-15:45: Transfer to Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan

15:45-16:45: Meeting with the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Mr. Ilkhom Norkulov

16:45-18:30: Personal time

18:30-19:00: Transfer to dinner (place TBC)

19:00-22:00: Dinner hosted by H.E. Mr. Konstantin Obolensky, Ambassador of Switzerland to Uzbekistan and Networking with C-Level executives of Swiss companies in Uzbekistan

16th November

Visits of companies & production facilities. Exchange of experience with C-Level-representatives of Swiss and European companies in Uzbekistan

07:00-08:30: Breakfast

08:30-09:00: Transfer to PROCAB

09:00-10:30: Visit of PROCAB (www.procab.uz/en/about.html) – local producer of cables and wires

10:30-11:00: Transfer to TexnoPark

11:00-13:00: Visit of TEXNOPARK (www.texnopark.uz/) – local producer of industrial products and household appliances

13:00-14:00: Lunch break (place TBC)

14:00-14:30: Transfer to M&M Militzer & Münch

14:30-16:30: Visit of M&M Militzer & Münch – forwarding and logistics service provider around the globe and Azia Trans Terminal

16:30-17:00: Transfer to “UzEltexsanoat” association

17:00-18:00: Meeting with First Deputy Chairman “UzEltexsanoat” association Mr. Mansur Khashimov

18:00-18:30: Transfer to dinner

18:30-20:30: Dinner (place TBC)

17th November

Business forum and meetings with financing partners, including local banks (foreign and Uzbek) (Location – Lotte Hotel Conference Room)

07:00-08:30: Breakfast

08:30-09:30: EBRD European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Alkis Drakinos Head EBRD Uzbekistan Government Reform Program, Case Studies & Q & A

09:30-10:00: Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV – Andreas Oel, Vice President, Large Enterprises & SMEs – Case Studies

10:00-10:30: Coffee break

10:30-11:30: Roundtable Financing Projects in Uzbekistan:

  • Commerzbank, Ketevan Antidze, Head of the Representative Office Tashkent;
  • Credit Suisse, Anastassiya Inglin, Head Central Asia;
  • LBBW Uzbekistan Aziz Inomkhodjaev.

Moderation: Dr. Jakob Schaad

11:30-12:30: Roundtable Uzbekistan Banking:

  • National Bank of Uzbekistan – Manguberdi Abdukarimov, Director of International Cooperation and Communication Department;
  • AsakaBank – Evgeniy Kim, Deputy Director of International Cooperation Dept.;
  • Uzpromstroybank – Akmal Palvanov, Director of International Cooperation Dept.;
  • Bank Ipak Yuli – Davron Mirtasunov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board;
  • Asia Alliance Bank – Davron Izroilov, Director of Foreign Economic Activity Department;

    Moderation: Bodo Thöns, Ex-CEO Commerzbank Uzbekistan 

12:30-14:00: Lunch break

14:00-14:30: Asian Development Bank – Business Opportunities Working with ADB – Yorkinjon N. Alimov

14:30-15:30: Round Table –Highlights of Corporate, Banking & Tax Law:

  • Corporate Law – Maksud Karaketov, Senior Associate Centil Law Firm;
  • Banking and Finance – Husniddin Ochildiyev, Senior Associate, Centil Law Firm;
  • Tax Law – Maria Shaftan, Senior Associate, LINDEMANNLAW

Moderation: Dr. Alexander Lindemann, LINDEMANNLAW

15:30-19:00: Reserved for additional meetings

19:00-22:00: Gala Dinner with Local, Swiss & International Entrepreneurs – Welcome by His Excellency Mr. Konstantin Obolensky, Ambassador of Switzerland to Uzbekistan

18th November

Optional: Day trip to Samarkand by high speed train with guide.

The possibility of participating in the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference.

Individual departure.

ORGANIZERS

LINDEMANNLAW advises in legal & tax matters and helps with lobbying. We have helped a number of successful Swiss joint ventures in Central Asia and have established over the years excellent government contacts in Uzbekistan. https://lindemannlaw.ch/

The Joint Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus (JCC) is the leading private sector organization in Switzerland that facilitates bilateral business between Switzerland and the Eurasia Region. JCC has 13 countries. Uzbekistan is a priority market of JCC. www.jointchambers.ch

Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) is the official Swiss organization for export and investment promotion with offices throughout Switzerland and in 31 countries. They support Swiss SMEs in their international business and help innovative foreign companies to establish in Switzerland. https://www.s-ge.com/

Swissmem is the leading association for both SMEs and major corporations in the Swiss technology industry. They provide their member companies with professional advice, offer them extensive networks and support them in digitalization while also, at a political level, advocating good framework conditions and an innovative centre of industry in Switzerland. https://www.swissmem.ch/

Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV insures political and del credere risks involved in exporting goods and services. SERV insurance and guarantees protect Swiss exporters from default and facilitate export financing. https://www.serv-ch.com/

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