Minister Calls for Closer Ties with Central Asian Countries
Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak wants Slovenia to improve economic relations with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The three central Asian countries expressed the same wish, Vizjak added after meeting their representatives in Moscow on Tuesday.
Vizjak, attending a session of the Regional Communications Union (RCU) assembly meeting, added that Slovenia cooperates well with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, while there is room for improvement in cooperation with Tajikistan.
Vizjak pointed out that exports of Slovenian goods and services had grown by 30% to 80% in 2006, in comparison with 2005. He explained that telecommunication company Iskratel is Slovenia's most widely known company in the region.
He revealed that Iskratel is about to sign a deal with Uzbekistan, a country that also wants more involvement in new Iskratel products.
Vizjak's meeting with the Azeri minister of communications and information technology, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and Tajikistan's deputy transport minister was also attended by representatives of Iskratel and Matjaz Jansa, the head of the electronic communications directorate at the ministry.
Slovenia meanwhile got observer status at the assembly. "Slovenia and Lithuania are the only EU members with observer status, which is very important for Slovenian companies' breakthrough on these fast-developing markets."
Vizjak, who began his four-day visit to Moscow on Monday, also met the deputy Russian finance minister to discuss Russia's US$ 129m clearing debt to Slovenia.
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