The opening ceremony of the main consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Samarkand.

The event was attended by ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Darkhan Satibaldi, the governor of Samarkand region E. Turdimov and members of the public.

 - The establishment of our main consulate in Samarkand is the result of the efforts of the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to further strengthen the strategic partnership and long-standing friendly relations between the two countries, - said the ambassador of Kazakhstan Darkhan Satibaldi.  “Especially in the last five years, cooperation between our countries in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres has intensified.  Today, there are two Uzbek consulates in Kazakhstan.  It is no coincidence that we chose Samarkand for our main consulate.  Because this city is one of the largest historical and cultural centers of Uzbekistan, a region with high economic potential and high investment attractiveness.  In particular, Samarkand has great potential for tourism.  Yesterday we got acquainted with the activities of a number of enterprises in the region and witnessed their close cooperation with Kazakhstan.  In particular, 50 modern buses produced at the Samarkand Automobile Plant have recently been delivered to Turkestan.  It is planned to purchase another 200 such buses by the end of the year.  At the end of last year, a branch of Tengebank was opened in Samarkand.  We hope that our main consulate will serve to further develop these ties.

“This year marks the 29th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,” Turdimov said at the ceremony.  “Over the past years, the relations between our countries based on good neighborliness and strategic partnership have been strengthened.  Especially in recent years, at the initiative of the leaders of the two countries, this cooperation continues at a new stage.  It is no exaggeration to say that this consulate is also a result of this.  According to the results of last year, the bilateral trade turnover of our region with Kazakhstan amounted to 147 million US dollars.  Today, 15 enterprises with Kazakh capital operate in Samarkand.

 The participants of the event got acquainted with the conditions created at the consulate, the opportunities for service.

 - Samarkand is an important region not only in Uzbekistan, but also in the center of Central Asia, at a major crossroads, - said the Consul General of Kazakhstan in Samarkand Azamat Aubekov in an interview with the media.  - This will create great opportunities for the development of the region.  Samarkand also has a great tourist potential.  During a recent visit to the region, the President of Uzbekistan set the task of transforming Samarkand into a city of one million and further increasing its tourist attractiveness.  These and other factors led to the opening of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in this historic city.  Along with Samarkand, our consulate provides services to the population of the region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, representatives of the Kazakh diaspora, legal entities and individuals.