The year 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia. Ravshan Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia, highlighted that Malaysia was a trustful and time-tested partner of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan will continue strengthening its mutually beneficial cooperation with Malaysia in three pillars – economy (including trade and investment), education and tourism.
“We can see dynamic growth in our trade for the last few years. In 2021, trade volume was US$75.6 million, including export from Uzbekistan to Malaysia – US$17.6 million, a growth of 146.4 per cent. Our country is the biggest exporter to Malaysia among Central Asian States.
“Malaysia is our students’ favourite destination. We managed to open dual programmes and branches of Malaysian universities in Uzbekistan and also attract Malaysian students to Uzbekistan. Previously it was vice versa,” Usmanov shared.
In 2022, three Malaysian scholars visited Uzbekistan under the Imam Bukhari fellowship programme. Another two students were recently selected by the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Samarkand for a graduate programme.
Developing Uzbekistan’s halal industry
Uzbekistan also took positive steps to develop its halal infrastructure in the last five years. In 2019 Uzbekistan became a full member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries (SMIIC), participating in different SMIIC technical committees to develop standards and prepare national specialists.
“Uzbekistan established close partnerships with the world-recognised conformity assessment bodies such as the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and others. Today, the number of companies in Uzbekistan certified with world-recognised conformity assessment bodies reached 30. The halal industry in Uzbekistan mainly develops in the tourism and food sector.”
Usmanov also revealed that Uzbekistan was in preparation to establish its halal accreditation body in the country in cooperation with JAKIM.
