A delegation of 17 members from Uzbekistan visited the World Horti Center (WHC) on 14 August led by Saidkamol Khodjaev, the Uzbek Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture. The aim of the visit was to get acquainted with the World Horti Center and to explore new trade relations with the Dutch business community represented there.
During the visit, Erwin Cardol, director of Demo nursery Westland, conducted a tour through the World Horti Center, where he informed the delegation from the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture and Horticulture, the World Bank, the Uzbekistan Embassy and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency about the latest developments in the sector.
Participants from World Horti Center, for which Uzbekistan offers many commercial opportunities, were present to give a sales pitch. Whether it was about seeds, pot plants, technology or substrate: the Uzbek delegation was impressed by the innovative strength of the Dutch horticultural sector.
With a size of 10 times the Netherlands and over 30 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan has a lot of potential for the production of horticultural products. (Greenhouse) horticulture and agro-logistics are important sub-sectors where there are opportunities for collaboration. The visit of this delegation was a follow-up to an earlier visit in June this year, when the Uzbek Minister of Trade and the Trade Council visited the World Horti Center.
The Uzbek president Mirziyoyev, who took office in December 2016, seems to be intent on speeding up important political, economic and agricultural reforms and the liberalization of the market, according to the WHC. In the economic field, efforts are increased to make conditions for business more attractive, to attract foreign investment, to stimulate international trade and to reform the currency policy. The Dutch horticultural sector as pioneer can benefit economically in this market.
source: World Horti Center
