Uzbekistan has invited Indian companies to explore joint venture opportunities in seven pharmacology-free economic zones, said Dilshod Akhatov, the Central Asian country’s ambassador to India.

The country is seeking to attract companies such as Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech and other Indian vaccine makers to explore joint manufacture and development of new vaccines with their peers in Uzbekistan.

“Special attention is given to the implementation of joint projects with Indian companies in the free economic zones of Uzbekistan, including seven pharmacological EPZs,” Ambassador Dilshod said at an interactive meeting held at MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai.

Besides the pharmaceutical sector, he also invited Indian companies to invest in the chemical, textile, leather, information technology and telecommunications sectors in this Central Asian country.

Ambassador Dilshod also expressed hope for collaboration to promote connectivity between the Central and South Asian region at the upcoming international conference on “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity – Challenges and Opportunities” , which is scheduled for Tashkent in July.

Dilshod welcomed the Indian government’s proposal to open open air corridors to Central Asian countries for the transport of fruits and vegetables, food and other agricultural products from Tashkent and other hubs in the Uzbekistan Aviation.

According to Uzbek experts, charter flights for transporting fruits, vegetables, food and agricultural products to India are possible, he said. Speaking at the interactive session, Vijay Kalantri, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Uzbekistan in India, said that last year the two countries agreed to implement 50 investment projects worth $ 3 billion and that India had also opened a line of credit of $ 448 million for four development projects in Uzbekistan, including road construction, sewage treatment and information technology.

“To date, more than 280 companies of Indian origin are operating in Uzbekistan and joint projects worth over 650 million dollars were underway.”