The second day of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Italian Republic saw a deepened commitment to business cooperation and the strengthening of inter-regional ties. The President held key meetings with leading figures from the Italian business community and the Lombardy region, bringing to the fore Uzbekistan’s commitment to economic partnership and growth.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev commenced the day in Milan with a meeting involving investors and representatives from over 25 Italian corporations and financial institutions. Among the attendees were luminaries from companies like Eni, Enel, Pietro Fiorentini, Saipem, Energy System, Imagro Group, HT Holding, Danieli, SACE, Ferroli Group, Arsenale Group, and Pirelli, to name a few. The Governor of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, and President of the Chamber of Commerce “Italy – Uzbekistan”, Giorgio Veronesi, also participated.

Describing the fruitful talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister George Meloni, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted the recently elevated strategic partnership. The meeting touched on further expanding trade and economic cooperation, ensuring comfortable business conditions, supporting flexible mechanisms for financing joint projects, and promoting industrial cooperation. Moreover, he pointed out the vital role Italian investors could play in realizing these plans, citing recent investment and trade agreements exceeding 9 billion euros.

The President underlined the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan, emphasizing their role in fostering a healthy business climate. He invited the Italian delegates to experience first-hand the stability, reliable guarantees, and favorable investment conditions in the “New Uzbekistan”. The discussions dwelt on the promising sectors for collaboration, including energy, food and textile industries, agriculture, chemistry, automotive, and electrical engineering.

The second part of the day saw President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussing potential cooperation with the Governor of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana. Lombardy, a prosperous and populous region in Northern Italy, contributes 22 percent of Italy’s total GDP. The President congratulated Fontana on his re-election and recognized Lombardy’s importance in fostering interregional contacts.

In 2022, trade turnover between the regions of Uzbekistan and Lombardy increased by 83 percent. The President emphasized the need for a full-scale Cooperation Program with Lombardy, a joint investment forum in Samarkand, and expanded business partnerships. The meeting concluded with the wish for Lombardy’s success in the forthcoming Winter Olympics in 2026.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the ITMA 2023, the world’s largest exhibition of textile and clothing technologies, taking place in Milan. He explored the potential of incorporating modern equipment and innovative solutions in Uzbekistan’s textile industry, which he sees as a pathway to creating new jobs and increasing the export potential of the industry.

Overall, the second day of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Italy visit underscored a strong commitment to economic collaboration, regional partnership, and future growth. It provided a roadmap for bolstering strategic partnerships and unlocking the synergistic potential of two culturally rich and economically vibrant nations.