METI State Minister Kozuki Visits the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan

1. Uzbekistan

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Kudratov Laziz Shavkatovich, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade (January 10)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Minister Kudratov. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, including energy, human resource development, and support for SMEs, and the development of the investment environment in Uzbekistan. They also confirmed that Japan and Uzbekistan will collaborate in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024, with consideration to the bilateral cooperation projects that were signed and announced at the local business forum held on the same date.

(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, Minister of Energy (January 10)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Minister Mirzamahmudov. The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the field of energy for carbon neutrality under the memorandum of cooperation on the realization of energy transitions between the governments of Japan and Uzbekistan, which was signed by METI Minister Saito and Minister Mirzamahmudov on January 9, 2024. They also agreed that Japan and Uzbekistan will further advance collaboration in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024, with consideration to the cooperation projects that were signed and announced at the local business forum held on the same date.

(3) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Karshibaev, Deputy Ministerof Economy and Finance (January 10)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Deputy Minister Karshibaev and the two sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral cooperation in such fields as support for SMEs. Based on this, they agreed that Japan and Uzbekistan will advance collaboration in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024, with consideration to the cooperation projects that were signed and announced at the local business forum held on the same date.

(4) Attending the Uzbekistan-Japan Business Forum (January 10)

The Uzbekistan-Japan Business Forum was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, with the attendance of State Minister Kozuki and Minister Kudratov. The forum brought together over 150 stakeholders from the business world in Japan and Uzbekistan and announced 12 projects signed between Japanese companies and other entities and Uzbekistan on the field of energy, projects related to digital transformation (DX), and support for SMEs.

2. Kazakhstan

(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Kanat Sharlapaev, Minister of Industry and Construction, and H.E. Mr. Erzhan Kazykhan, Assistant to the President (January 12)

State Minister Kozuki held a lunch meeting with Minister Sharlapaev and Assistant to the President Kazykhan. They welcomed the fact that the accumulated efforts between Japan and Kazakhstan, including the discussions at the 8th meeting of the Joint Commission of Government and Private Sectors of Japan and Kazakhstan on Economic Cooperation held in Japan in November 2023, led to the announcement of cooperation documents concerning the field of energy and DX-related projects at the business forum held on the same date. They also agreed that Japan and Kazakhstan will advance the further development of projects in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024.

(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Arman Shakkaliyev, Minister of Trade and Integration (January 12)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Minister Shakkaliyev. The two sides welcomed the signing of the memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) concluded in October 2023, the convening of the 8th meeting of the Joint Commission of Government and Private Sectors of Japan and Kazakhstan on Economic Cooperation in November 2023, and other efforts. Also, they agreed that Japan and Kazakhstan will collaborate in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024 by facilitating the expansion of investment and trade taking advantage of cooperation projects and other efforts concerning the field of energy and DX-related projects that were announced at the local business forum held on the same date.

(3) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources (January 12)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Minister Nyssanbayev. The two sides welcomed the signing of the memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of the JCM concluded in October 2023, and also agreed that Japan and Kazakhstan will further advance collaboration in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024, including the formulation of a roadmap for carbon neutrality and the development of specific projects under the JCM.

(4) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Almassadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy (January 12)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Minister Satkaliyev. The two sides welcomed the cooperation projects in such fields as energy that were signed and announced at the local business forum held on the same date under the memorandum of cooperation on the realization of energy transitions between the governments of Japan and Kazakhstan, which was signed by Minister Saito and Minister Satkaliyev on January 9, 2024. They also agreed that Japan and Kazakhstan will further advance collaboration in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024 as an effort for further development of projects.

(5) Meeting with H.E. Ms. Zulfia Suleimenova, Advisor to the President (January 12)

State Minister Kozuki held a meeting with Advisor to the President Suleimenova. The two sides welcomed the signing of the memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of the JCM concluded in October 2023 and the convening of the 8th meeting of the Joint Commission of Government and Private Sectors of Japan and Kazakhstan on Economic Cooperation in November 2023. Also, they agreed that Japan and Kazakhstan will further advance collaboration in preparation for the Summit Meeting of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue scheduled to be held in 2024 by facilitating the cooperation projects announced at the business forum.

(6) Attending the Kazakhstan-Japan Business Forum (January 12)

The Kazakhstan-Japan Business Forum was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the attendance of State Minister Kozuki and Advisor to the President Suleimenova. The forum brought together over 150 stakeholders from the business world in Japan and Kazakhstan and announced four projects concluded between Japanese companies and other entities and Kazakhstan on such fields as energy and DX.

Related Links

• Minister Saito Holds Online Meeting with H.E. Mr. Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, Minister of Energy, Uzbekistan
• METI Minister Saito Holds Online Meeting with H.E. Mr. Almassadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy, Kazakhstan

Division in Charge

Russia, Central Asia and Caucasus Office, Trade Policy Bureau