Please introduce the significance of your Independence Day, September 1st  for our readers.
September 1, 1991 is the day when the Republic of Uzbekistan celebrates the Independence Day after spending most of the past 70 years under the rule of the Soviet Union. This year marks the commemoration of the 29th Independence Day, which is an important reminder of significant achievements reached during the past period in building a new democratic state and civil society.
Over the years of independent development, the country has been creating its own model of stable economic growth and favorable business environment, pursuing modernization, technical and technological advancement in production, establishing diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries and integrating itself into the number of international organizations. Under the new leadership of H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev our country has broadly opened its doors to foreign investors, liberalized the economy and has been actively improving its image on the international arena.
Today, we see colossal transformation of the country in all the fields. We see the prominent future for further prosperity and well-being of our nation. This is the reason why all the peoples of Uzbekistan with enthusiasm and joy celebrate this bright holiday, featuring it with the best performances and festive food.

Please let us know the major issues discussed and agreed during the summit talks between Korean President, Moon Jae-in and Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in April 19, 2019.
The state visit of Korean President Moon Jae-in to Uzbekistan on April 19, 2019 has become a new milestone that is currently guiding the joint development of the countries. The leaders of South Korea and Uzbekistan agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a special strategic partnership, also vowing efforts to further expand their economic cooperation.
During the summit talks, two leaders discussed about the development of comprehensive cooperation, mutually beneficial partnership, continuation of political dialogue. They also discussed prospects for expanding practical cooperation in trade, economic, investment, financial, technical, cultural and humanitarian fields and exchanged views on topic of the regional and international agenda of mutual interest.
President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in visited the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where he delivered a speech to members of parliament.
Two presidents took part in the opening ceremony of the Uzbek-South Korean business forum held at the Uzexpocentre. The forum was attended by heads of economic and financial institutions, leading companies of the two countries, including more than 350 representatives of 150 companies and organizations of South Korea.
During the state visit Korean Culture and Art House was opened in Tashkent. It has a 478-seat cinema and concert hall, a conference hall, a library, an art gallery, a restaurant, and office facilities, and is expected to become a place of attraction for the general public, especially for the younger generation, a center for the mutual enrichment of cultures. The establishment of the Korean Culture and Art House is a clear confirmation of strong friendship and the highest level of relations that have developed between our countries.
During the visit, important agreements were reached and agreements worth more than $ 12 billion were signed. They cover such spheres and industries as energy, oil and gas, chemical, mining, engineering, electrical, textile and light industries, transport and logistics, infrastructure, ICT, digital medicine.

Please explain Uzbek investment environments for Korean potential investors and any specific favors for foreign investors.
According to World Bank Group’s Doing Business 2020, Uzbekistan has earned a spot among the world’s top twenty most improved economies for doing business.
Uzbekistan is a prominent country with wide range of opportunities for investment. It has an abundant and diversified natural resources (gas, gold, cotton), low level debt and comfortable foreign exchange reserves, ambitious public investment program, large population of 34 million and strategic position between China and Europe (“New Silk Road”).
To improve the business environment, the Government of Uzbekistan has imposed a number of legislative changes on simplification of business registration procedures, cancellation of unscheduled inspections of businesses, and provision of transparency by establishing a Law on Countering Corruption.
Our President named FDI attraction as a key priority for the country as he is focusing on economy liberalization. He supports business climate by creating a set of attractive incentives, such as creating Free economic zones, where foreign businesses get full exemption from income tax and custom duties and strengthening foreigner investor protections.
For example, residents of Free Economic Zones, whose FDI amount equals $ 10 million or more, are exempted from all types of taxes for 10 years. Others with $ 5-10 million, $ 3-5 million and $0,3-3 million investment amount are exempted for 7, 5 and 3 years respectively.
To proof the favorable business environment I would like to inform that the volume of South Korean investments attracted to our country has exceeded $ 5 billion. Such leading companies as Korean National Oil Company, Eximbank, many leading companies of this country, including KOGAS, Lotte Group, Samsung, Hyundai, Shindong Resources, are actively involved in the implementation of large investment projects.
Within the framework of financial and technical assistance programs through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Economic Development Fund, 17 projects worth over $ 750 million are being implemented, including the construction of a Center for Chemical Technologies, a Medical clinic for adults, equipping medical institutions and educational institutions of Uzbekistan.

What do you think would be the most attractive industrial sectors for Korean companies to invest in Uzbekistan?
Korean companies consider Uzbekistan as a biggest market in the Central Asia. In this regard, many Korean companies are eager to establish joint ventures with partners in Uzbekistan. As of June 1, 2020, there were 856 companies with the participation of capital of Korean companies. It should be noted that 346 joint companies were established during 2018-2020. It is a clear indication of the positive effect of the top-level summits in November 2017 in Seoul city and April 2019 in Tashkent city.
To name some of few recently completed and ongoing projects, I would emphasize on the project for establishment of Children Multidisplinary Medical Center in Tashkent, Uzbek-Korean International University if Ferghana, and construction of the Innovative Scientific and Production Pharmaceutical Cluster in the Zangiata district.
Such fields as innovation and ICT, mechanical engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical, light, electrical and jewelry industries, agriculture, education and healthcare are promising spheres for Korean companies to invest.

Please introduce some outstanding Korean Companies’ activities in Uzbekistan. (Alisher aka)
One of the most outstanding example of cooperation in investment area is the automobile factory in Andijan region of Uzbekistan which was construction with “Daewoo Motors”. It has been manufacturing passengers cars since 1996 and automobile sector of Uzbekistan is considered as one of the significant spheres of the economy.
Another success-story would be construction of Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex with participation of Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd., GS Engineering & Construction Corp., Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd. This $ 4 billion worth project is implemented by Joint Stock Company Uzbekneftegas and consortium of Korean companies-KOGAS, Lotte Chemical Corp., GS E&C. Currently this chemical complex processes natural gas and produces polyethylene and polypropylene. This project has received international recognition and awards:
2012 - Recognized as the best design and financial agreement in the petrochemical and gas-chemical sector of the international edition of the <Project Finance International>.
2012 - awarded the international award "Best Deal of 2012" editions Trade Finance Magazine and Global Trade Review.
2014 - Awarded the prize "Global Deal in 2014 in oil and gas sector" international edition Infrastructure Journal.
There are other number of success-stories in the bilateral cooperation in investment sector. The recent one among them is KT Corporation, which has two subsidiaries in Uzbekistan, ET and EVO-providers of high-speed internet. Besides, the Government of Uzbekistan is developing e-government system together with Korean side. In cooperation with KTNET, the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan is implementing a project on establishing National Electronic Commerce Platform in Uzbekistan.
Taking into consideration the specifics geographical of location of Uzbekistan, logistics and transportation are very attractive sectors for foreign investors. Almost all leading logistics companies of Korea are operating in Uzbekistan. They are Hanjin Shipping, UNICO Logistics, Taewon International Logistics, Pantos Logistics, CJ Logistics, Hyundai, GLOVIS and others.

Please introduce Uzbek tourist attractions for Korean tourists abroad.
Located in the heart of the Central Asia, the Republic of Uzbekistan is famous for its numerous architectural monuments, incredible natural landscapes, magnificent palaces, and ruins of fortresses of past civilizations, outstanding cultural events, gastronomic delights and famous craft workshops. Uzbekistan includes 12 regions and the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. Each corner of Uzbekistan attracts with its features.
First of all, once you are in Uzbekistan you are highly encouraged to visit Tashkent, which is the capital of the country and the Central Asia’s main hub. This is the city of intriguing contradictions of modernism and historical past. Traditional markets like Chorsu Bazaar, which has been running since the times of the Silk Road, are the windows into daily Uzbek life.
In the historical cities included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List - Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz, you can visit the most ancient architectural monuments that have preserved echoes of past eras. For example, the spectacular Ark-Bukhara’s oldest structure, Ismail Samanid Mausoleum- one of the best works of Central Asian architecture, Chor Minor, Registan square in Samarqand, mausoleum Gur-e-Amir, Shah-i-Zinda complex, Kalta Minor in Khiva will dazzle you by its beautiful architecture and magical atmosphere.
Uzbekistan is famous not only for its history and legendary architecture. It is also an attractive destination for exotic tours. Here, modern comfort and wildlife are successfully combined - primarily due to the special geographical location of the country. For nature amateurs, I strongly recommend to take two days to escape into beautiful mountains of Chimgan, where you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, skiing. From another paradise, you might head to Charvak reservoir, which offers brilliant blue waters, perfect for paragliding or sunbathing.
The government of Uzbekistan has been taking intensive measures to develop tourism infrastructure and safe travel of foreign tourists in the country. Today there is a huge selection of different accommodation facilities in Uzbekistan from fashionable hotel chains to national-style guest houses. The developed system of domestic flights, train services, intercity buses and taxi help to make your journeys comfortable and unforgettable.
I would like to mention that in order to create additional convenience for Korean tourists, the government of Uzbekistan has established visa-free regime for the citizens of the Republic of Korea. Since 2018 Korean citizens can enter Uzbekistan without a visa for a period of stay up to 30 days.
Uzbekistan is a very stable and peaceful country; its priority is to protect the rights of citizens and foreign tourists. In order to ensure the safe stay of tourists in Uzbekistan, since 2017 the tourism police has been functioning in all tourist sites of the country. In 2019 Uzbekistan was ranked fifth in the safety rating for single travelers in the Solo Travel Safety Report 2019.
Amidst Corona pandemic, a new system of safe tourism is being launched in Uzbekistan. The government is working on step by step restoration of both domestic and international travels in Uzbekistan. For the resumption of international inbound tourism, a new system - "Uzbekistan. Safe travel GUARANTEED" was launched, which aims to introduce safe, yet simple system for travelling. We hope that when the coronavirus epidemic is over, more Korean tourists will visit wonderful country of Uzbekistan!

Please let us know your point of view on how to strengthen further the close economic ties between Korea and Uzbekistan.
This year, two heads of states hold a telephone conversation on April 13 and they discussed current issues of strengthening bilateral relations of special strategic partnership. Much emphasize was put on joint efforts of two countries to fight against the spread of coronavirus and look beyond automobiles, fabric and agricultural machinery industries.
As of practical implementation of agreements reached during the phone call, delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade H.E. Mr. Sardor Umurzakov paid a visit to Seoul.
During the visit, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister for investment and foreign economic relations, held talks in Seoul, during which they also agreed to speed up preparations for a possible free trade agreement (FTA). They also agreed to start domestic procedures to begin negotiations on bilateral FTA. Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister said that Tashkent will cooperate with Seoul to ensure South Korean companies can boost their participation in infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan.
Therefore, I hope that the trade agreement will increase economic cooperation between the two nations and deeper interaction ties and exchanges.