Winding up his official tour of Uzbekistan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, returned home yesterday.

Shaikh Mohammed, and the accompanying delegation, was received at Dubai International Airport by Chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In Tashkent, Shaikh Mohammed had held talks with Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev on various political and economic issues. They discussed bilateral relations between UAE and Uzbekistan and ways of bolstering them in various avenues.
The Uzbek premier welcomed Shaikh Mohammed and describing his visit as a step towards building bridges between the two countries in the fields of economy, investment and culture.

Mirziyayev expressed his hope that the visit will strengthen the standing relations between the two countries and will take the cooperation between the two countries into more heights in the best interests of the people of both the nations.

During the visit, Shaikh Mohammed and Mirziyayev attended the signing ceremonies of a number of agreements for future cooperation paving way for the protection of mutual interests of UAE and Uzbekistan.

Agreements were signed in the presence of the premiers of both the countries for the encouragement and protection of mutual investments, formulating conditions and creating environments for capital movement between the two countries.

The agreements were signed between Dr Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, Minister of State for Financial and Industrial affairs and Uzbek, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade Ganiev Elyor Majidovich, for settling disputes between partners in an agreement and investors in any province, honouring the existing laws and regulations in both the countries.

Dr Mohammed Khalfan and the Chairman of Sate Taxes Committee affiliated to Uzbek Cabinet Batir Kasimov also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation. According to the agreement, the government institutions and national carriers of both countries will be exempted from income taxes. It also specified a five percent reduction on revenue tax on the share profits of the citizens of both the countries.

Shaikh Mohammed and Shavkat Mirziyayev also attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UAE and Uzbekistan for Political Consultations between the foreign ministries of both the countries.

The MOU was signed between Mohammed Hussein Al Shaali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shah Azim.
Shaikh Mohammed and Mirziyayev exchanged traditional mementoes.

Later Shaikh Mohammed and the accompanying delegation attended a lunch banquet held in their honour by Mirziyayev.

Shaikh Mohammed expressed admiration of the heritage and rich culture of Uzbekistan after watching a folklore show by troupes from different parts of the country.

Accompanied by Mirziyayev, Shaikh Mohammed was given a rousing welcome as he made his way through the streets of Tashkent to Independence Square where he laid a wreath at the Independence Monument.

Shaikh Mohammed was briefed by Tashkent on the globe-shaped monument which symbolizes Uzbekistan’s independence and desire to integrate into the international community.

Later, Shaikh Mohammed left Uzbekistan and was seen off at the airport by the Uzbek Prime Minister. Shaikh Mohammed presented a copy of his book ’My Vision’ to the Prime Minister who described it as a ’precious gift.’

Upon his departure, Shaikh Mohammed sent cables to President Karimov and Prime Minister Mirziyayev, thanking them for the warm hospitality accorded to him and to his accompanyg delegation during his visit. He also expressed the hope that the visit will yield fruitful results that reflect positively on the relations between the two countries.