2015 US-Uzbekistan Annual Business Forum

WASHINGTON, DC, USA -

2015 U.S.-Uzbekistan Annual Business Forum

UZBEKISTAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan (confirmed)

US SPEAKERS:

Ms. Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State, South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State (invited)

Mr. Michael Lally, Executive Deputy Assistant Secretary, Europe, Middle East and Africa, US Department of Commerce (confirmed)

Mr. Raymond Ellis, Vice President & Manager, Global Business Development Division, Export-Import Bank of the United States (invited)

The event will be followed by a reception to welcome members of the Uzbek delegation and the forum's participants

Organized by the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce

Sponsored by The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

For more sponsorship opportunities, please contact AUCC at 202-509-3744 and info@aucconline.com

More information about the forum's speakers to follow.

AUCC would like to invite all interested parties to participate in the 2015 US-Uzbekistan Annual Business Forum and hear the Uzbek Government plans and opportunities for our members' increased trade and investment engagement in the market that can help US become a leading business partner. AUCC members will also share their success stories to encourage more US companies to do business and invest in Uzbekistan.

The American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) is the only trade association in the United States and Uzbekistan that exclusively represents the business interests of U.S. companies active in the Uzbek market. Established in 1993 and based in Washington, D.C., AUCC is the first bilateral trade organization that successfully promotes trade and investment ties, cultural exchanges and bonds of friendship between the United States and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In performing its functions, AUCC places primary emphasis on serving the needs and interests of its members, namely: The Boeing Company, Case New Holland Industrial, The Coca-Cola Company, FMN International, General Electric, General Motors, Harris Corporation, Honeywell, Indsur Stelcor, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Nukem Inc., Rio Tinto, Solar Turbines, Sustainment Solutions, Inc., White & Case LLP and Zeppelin International AG. These companies are united by one common cause: promotion of trade and investment ties, cultural exchanges and bonds of friendship between the United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Today, Uzbekistan represents the largest market in the Central Asia region with a population of almost 30 million people, an annual GDP growth of 8% and a well-established and diversified economy. American companies invested more than $500 million in the Uzbek economy during the period 1992 to 2012. In addition, U.S. exports to the Republic of Uzbekistan amounted to more than $3.3 billion. The year 2012 is a good example when US exports to Uzbekistan totaled more than $285 million compared to $100 million in 2011 and $101 million in 2010. In 2013, the trade levels continued to increase reaching a record $386 million. During the first nine months of 2014, the US-Uzbekistan trade turnover amounted to $281 million. While this is good news, the volume of U.S. exports and investments in this largest Central Asian market is lower than those of Uzbekistan's near neighbors, including Russia with its' 2013 exports to Uzbekistan reaching more than $7.1 billion; hina - $5.2 billion and Korea - $2.1 billion.