Over 500 representatives of retail chains, business associations, transport and logistics companies, embassies, farmers, and growers from the European Union, Central Asia and other CIS countries joined together in a February 25-26 Forum, Horticulture Sector of Fergana Valley: Export Perspectives convened by USAID’s Regional Economic Cooperation (REC) Project. Several organizations supported REC to make the event possible including the German Development Agency (GIZ), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade and the State Committee on Privatization, Demonopolization and Development of Competition, as well as the Khokimiyat of Fergana region.

This forum brought together parties to negotiate deals for fresh and processed horticultural products from the fertile Fergana Valley. During the course of the two-day event, there were also training sessions, business to business meetings, trade exhibition, and field visits. Initial conservative estimates point to more than $130 million in letters of intent for trade relationships between Uzbekistan’s various horticulture players and external partners.
