The visit took place on 19-20 November 2007 and the delegation included the representatives of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Center for Coordination and Control over the Functioning of the Securities Market at the State Property Committee, Center for Social and Economic Research at the Cabinet of Ministers, Center for Economic Research, as well as UNDP.

The visit was organized by UNDP project "Support to Investment Process for National Development" jointly with Turkish International Cooperation Agency within the framework of elaboration of series of analytical reports for the Government of Uzbekistan on formulation, implementation and monitoring of the national investment policy. The series of reports cover various topics, including: review of international experience in the field of investment policy making; identification of barriers to and providing recommendations on stimulation of private investments into manufacturing of high value added products and promotion of innovativeness; and analysis of public investment decision making and providing recommendations on improving its effectiveness.

During the study tour, the delegation visited key Turkish government and non-government organizations that are involved in the investment policy formulation and implementation process. Among them are the State Planning Organization at the Prime Ministry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Under-secretariat of Treasury, Turkish Competition Authority, Capital Markets Board of Turkey, Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB), Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Export Promotion Centre of Turkey (IGEME). Special visits were organized to the first science and research park at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and Free Economic Zone at the airport of Istanbul .

It was particularly interesting to see the important role played by universities and research centers within the science and research park in facilitating innovation and linking research with mass production. The Turkish innovation strategy seemed to be paying off very well, as the number of innovation start ups was increasing.

As a result of the visit, the group got acquainted with various instruments used for stimulation of private investments into manufacturing of high value added and innovative products, including fiscal privileges, easy access to financial resources, availability of inexpensive energy resources and raw materials, free or inexpensive business education and export/marketing consulting services, access to scientists, and many other. Particularly interesting and important was to see the role each institution plays, and how they cooperate and complement each other.

The visit also allowed to establish contacts between Uzbek and Turkish counterparts and to define further steps for possible cooperation. Study tour was very helpful in terms of providing insight into recent successful Turkish experience in promoting private investment, increasing exports and strengthening the private sector in general.