A View from Italy: Achieving GSP + Beneficiary Status in Recognition of the Progress Made by the Government of Uzbekistan and its People on the Path of Reform

The Italian Embassy and Italian Trade Agency Office in Tashkent are glad to congratulate Uzbekistan on its joining the GSP+ system. It is a very meaningful step, which testifies Uzbekistan’s commitment to reform, global trade and global partnerships.

Italy has strongly supported Uzbekistan’s accession to GSP+ and feels that this step will bring many mutual benefits.

GSP+ is a system of preferential foreign trade between the European Union and lower and middle income countries which commit to very high standards on human and labour rights, environmental and climate protection and good governance. So being granted beneficiary status of GSP+ is also an acknowledgment of the progress made by the government of Uzbekistan and its people in the path of reforms.

The trade between Italy and Uzbekistan has been growing in recent years and withstood to a large extent the effects of the pandemic. Italian exports to Uzbekistan are doing well with over 300 million of Euros of value, but we do also look forward to import more from Uzbekistan and help it increase its exports. To this end we are both exporting high-tech machinery which will enable Uzbekistani factories and artisans to upgrade their products and also planning the visit of AICE, an Italian association that helps our companies in the import of strategic goods for our industrial system and which is very keen on coming to Uzbekistan.

We believe that Italian goods will help bolster Uzbekistan’s economy and allow it to further develop and retake its place as the manufacturing hub of Central Asia. At the same time we are keen on helping our companies buy goods from Uzbekistan, which will now be the blend of ancient crafts and traditions with modern machinery and technology. Italian machinery has the best quality in the world and it will help Uzbekistan produce great products in Central Asia.

Our partnership with Uzbekistan extends even further than this, as we are also keen on helping to preserve and restore Uzbekistan’s historical heritage and develop its tourism industry. We believe that this cooperation will also benefit from the closer links that GSP+ has forged.

Welcome Uzbekistan to GSP+!

Agostino Pinna

Ambassador of Italy

Martino Castellani

Director Italian Trade Agency Office