American-Uzbek Chamber Of Commerce Meets In Tashkent

UzReport.com. Posted May 24, 2001

A visiting US delegation led by the president of the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and vice president of the US Newmont Mining Corporation, Lawrence Kurlander attended the 8-th session of the joint chamber, which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent on May 23 with participation of representatives of Uzbekistan government and business circles of USA and Uzbekistan.

Among the founders of the Chamber of Commerce from American side are more than 20 major American corporations such as Newmont Mining, Caterpillar, Cargill, Exxon and number of banks. From Uzbek side there were representatives of 18 departments, associations, organizations and enterprises.

The session of the Uzbekistan-American Chamber of Commerce was opened by its American chairman, Lawrence Kurlander. The agenda included the questions pertaining to expansion of the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. It was stressed that the activity of the Chamber and authority of its members facilitate the process of informing USA businessmen about Uzbekistan's potential and helps to create conditions for attracting foreign investors in the economy of Uzbekistan and expanding bilateral trade.

Uzbek Prime Minister Otkir Sultonov in his speech praised the chamber's role in the Uzbek economy. In particular, he noted the fruitful work to reform the economy and to improve the business climate in the past few years. A total of 50 tonnes of gold were produced in our country last year as a result of the cooperation.

Currently the sides are working on new projects. For example, work is under way on developing the gold deposits in Tashkent Region. As for long-term cooperation, there are plans for setting up joint ventures to manufacture agricultural machinery. It was noted that cooperation in the strategic field, which provides for American partners to take part in the big privatization process in Uzbekistan, was of interest to both sides.

The chairman of the chamber and vice president of the American Newmont Mining Corporation, Lawrence Kurlander, said that the corporation and the company Qizilqumnodirmetaloltin [Kyzylkum rare metals and gold] were planning to launch a health project in the Kyzylkum [desert].

Kurlander also said that his term as president of the chamber would expire this year, and that the president of Nukem Inc, Mr James Cornell was replacing him.