The workshop is dedicated to supporting Uzbek stakeholders from the business sector, public officials as well as civil society to maximise the benefits of the GSP+. The event will inform participants how the new relationship between the EU and Uzbekistan under the GSP+ will function in practice and offers the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session.
As of 10 April 2021, Uzbekistan is part of the GSP+ which grants its beneficiaries duty-free access to the EU market for about 66% of tariff lines contingent on the ratification and effective implementation of 27 core international conventions. In 2019, goods worth €93.79 million were imported from Uzbekistan using GSP preferences, equalling a share of about 40% of overall EU imports from Uzbekistan. With the accession to the GSP+ arrangement, new opportunities arise as tariffs for important export goods, such as woven fabrics, clothing, and articles of plastics, will be removed. At the same time, the GSP+ is a strong commitment to international standards and values relating to human and labour rights, good governance, and environmental protection and offers new avenues for civil society actors to engage on these issues.
Opening Speech by Mr Valdis Dombrovskis
Programme
all times indicated in Tashkent time (GMT+5)
14:00 - 14:40 Opening Session
- 14:00 Keynote and welcome - H.E. Ms Charlotte Adriaen, EU Ambassador
- 14:10 Keynote and welcome - H.E. Mr Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- 14:20 Message from Brussels - Mr Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade (video message)
- 14:30 Introduction to the GSP Hub Project - Dr Willem van der Geest, Team Leader, GSP Hub Project
14:40 - 15:55 Uzbekistan's participation in the EU's GSP+
- 14:40 Impact of Uzbekistan's participation in GSP + on business development and job creation
- Mr A. Ikramov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan
- 15:00 Introduction to GSP + - Objectives, mechanisms and roles of stakeholders.
- Mr Nikolaos Zaimis, Senior Adviser on Trade and Sustainable Development, DG TRADE of the European Commission
- 15:05 Coffee Break
- 15:20 Business focus: How to benefit from the GSP+
- Mr Muradov U., Director of the Export Promotion Agency
- Mr Christophe Fontaine, International Relations Officer, Preferential origin - General, GSP, Asia and Oceania, DG Taxud
This practical session introduces the specific requirements and benefits under the GSP+ for business stakeholders and civil society. Speakers will provide details on EU import quality check standards, EU customs clearance procedures, etc., and will highlight changes to these requirements under the GSP+ arrangement. Furthermore, this session will emphasise avenues for CSOs and social partners to advocate for progress related to the international conventions covered by the GSP+ and highlight ways for organisations to contribute to the effective implementation of the UN and ILO conventions covered under the GSP+.
15:55 - 16:15 Economic Opportunities under the GSP+
- 15:55 Market potential for Uzbek products and impediments to trade
- Mr Woldemar Walter, Project Manager of the German Economic Team/Consultant at Berlin Economics
- Mr S. Abbaskhanov, Founder of Global Export Company LLC
With export diversification and development being one of the core objectives of the GSP, this session explores opportunities for enhancing Uzbekistan’s trade capacity. It will assess the export potential of different Uzbek products on the European market and will highlight opportunities and challenges for Uzbek products. Furthermore, this session will focus on how the positive economic trajectories of recent years can be carried into the future, focussing on new economic opportunities the GSP+ provides, for example in the areas of green growth, sustainable production, and organic cultivation.
16:15- 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 - 17:40 Business and Values - an integrated perspective on the GSP+
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16:30 Mr E. Mukhitdinov, First Deputy Minister of Labour
- 16:40 Mr B. Makhamadaliev, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Trade Unions
- 16:45 Mr E. Margishvili, Executive Director of the Confederation of Employers of Uzbekistan
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16:50 Mr Jonas Astrup, Chief, Third Party Monitoring (TPM) Project, International Labour Organisation (ILO)
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17:00 Mr Shukrat Ganiev, Spokesperson for civil society monitors in TPM
International standards and values form an important part of the GSP+ regulation and effective implementation of the covered conventions is important to use the full potential provided by the GSP+. This session highlights ways for civil society to engage under the GSP+ and the impact civil society can create. Furthermore, the session will discuss how the GSP+ could help to improve the overall business climate and what kind of economic opportunities could arise from the effective implementation of the conventions.
17:10 - 17:40 Q&A session
17:40 - 18:00 Closing Session
with closing remarks by
- Mr Abidov B., Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade
- Ms Ewa Synowiec, Director of Directorate C, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, Asia (II), Trade and Sustainable Development, Green Deal, DG Trade
- Dr Willem van der Geest, Team Leader, GSP Hub Project
You can find the bios of the speakers here.
If you have any questions please contact us here: contact@gsphub.eu