LAHORE, March 12. /Dunyo IA/.  A Uzbekistan - Pakistan Business Forum was held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized as part of the working visit of the delegation from Tashkent Region to Pakistan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event was attended by the Khokim (Governor) of the Tashkent region Zoyir Mirzaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Tukhtaev, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mian Fahimur Rehman, Director of the Punjab Special Economic Zones Authority Sohail Saleem, as well as representatives of city and provincial authorities.

Additionally, forum brought together over 120 entrepreneurs and representatives of major distribution networks from Uzbekistan and Pakistan. These participants represented sectors such as textiles, precious metal processing, pharmaceuticals, leather industry, construction, energy, hotel and restaurant business and other industrial fields.

The business forum was opened by Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev. In his introductory speech, he detailed the large-scale reforms being implemented under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, measures to liberalize the tax and customs systems, and the country's scientific, intellectual, raw material, and economic potential. He also highlighted the diversified industrial base and opportunities for joint projects in energy, petrochemistry, ICT, agriculture, construction materials and the financial and banking sector. Special attention was paid to the development of the tourism industry.

Khokim of the Tashkent region, Zoyir Mirzaev, focused his presentation on the trade, economic, and investment potential of the region, its functioning industrial zones, the favourable business climate for foreign investors, and proposed joint investment projects. In conclusion, he called on Pakistani business circles to actively develop their activities in Uzbekistan, specifically in the Tashkent region, utilizing the incentives available to foreign investors to increase bilateral trade turnover.

The forum featured special presentations on investment opportunities and existing preferences for doing business and establishing joint ventures with foreign partners in the Tashkent region. Participants received detailed answers regarding infrastructure projects in textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, tourism, leather industry and construction.

Following the forum's program, representatives of the business communities from the Tashkent and Punjab regions held B2B meetings. As a result of these negotiations, agreements were reached on the implementation of several mutually beneficial joint projects.