Financial Times

PRESS RELEASE

FT UK-Uzbekistan Energy Forum
Understanding the Opportunities in a Rising Uzbekistan Economy
#FTUzbekistan
Corinthia Hotel, London - 18 April, 2018

OVERVIEW:

International companies are invited to participate in an UK-Uzbek Energy Forum featuring business and investment opportunities in Uzbekistan taking place April 18, 2018.

Uzbekistan is a dynamically developing country with a fast-growing population of 32 million and is by some way Central Asia’s largest consumer market. It is opening up economically and politically, creating new opportunities for trade and investment. It is also a natural-resource rich country with the most diversified economy in the region. The country is a top ten producer of gold with the largest open-pit gold mine in the world and has substantial deposits of strategic resources such as minerals as copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, and uranium. It is a major gas producer (around 60bcm annually) and is investing heavily in gas extraction, processing and transmission projects. Uzbekistan is also the largest agricultural producer of the region and a recognised leading producer and exporter of raw cotton, cotton yarn and textiles.

Uzbekistan posts consistently strong economic growth (5.3% in 2017). Large scale reforms are transforming its economy, including the liberalisation of its currency in autumn 2017 – a key step for attracting investment to the country. Uzbekistan is in the top 10 global reforming countries in this year’s World Bank “Ease of Doing Business” Report.

Uzbek-British trade and economic relations are developing dynamically, and boosting bilateral business ties is a priority for both countries. The UK is considered to be one of the leading trading and investment partners of Uzbekistan. UK companies are identified as having strong expertise in energy, education, finance, legal and other relevant sectors, and will find excellent partners to implement current and planned projects in Uzbekistan. This event is aimed at providing British companies with the opportunity to enter the Uzbek market at an early stage and support them to take advantage of the opportunities that are opening up in the country.

There are a number of significant projects to be implemented in the energy sector in Uzbekistan in 2017-2019, and British companies are welcomed to participate in their implementation. Importantly, UK Export Finance has capacity to support British exports into Uzbekistan and all its products and services are available for both exporters and Uzbek buyers.

Financial Times Live and fDi Magazine are delighted to host a high-level executive forum to discuss the commercial, trading and partnership opportunities that Uzbekistan offers, with a special focus on the energy sector.
Further information can also be found on the website: live.ft.com/FTUzbekistan

GUIDELINES:

Journalists with media accreditation to the summit, we ask you to respect the following guidelines:

We request that “FT UK-Uzbekistan Energy Forum” is mentioned in all reports relating to the conference, including sideline interviews with speakers and quotes in later articles. Members of the media who do not adhere to this guideline risk losing their accreditation.
You will be issued with a delegate badge that must be worn always during the FT UK-Uzbekistan Energy Forum. Please note that badges are not transferable.
Professional video and photography are only permitted at the Forum with prior approval from the Financial Times. None of the conference sessions may be broadcasted live without permission from the FT at least 24 hours in advance.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS:

General information and logistics:

If you would like to apply for a press pass, please contact niamh.meehan@ft.com directly.
Venue: Corinthia Hotel, London
Business attire is required throughout the forum
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue
Please note that while reporting press are welcome to ask questions during Q&A sessions, moderators are likely to take first questions from delegates.

CONTACT:

Niamh Meehan
Marketing Executive
Financial Times Live|Global Conferences & Events
One Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HL
T: +44 (0) 20 7873 3898 E: niamh.meehan@ft.com


AGENDA:

08:45 Registration and refreshments
09:45 Welcome
Courtney Fingar, Editor-in-chief, fDi Magazine, Financial Times Group
09:50 Short film on Uzbekistan
10:00 Opening addresses
Baroness Fairhead CBE, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion,
Department for International Trade

Shukhrat Abdusharifovich Vafaev, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investments/Chairman, Uzbekistan Reconstruction and Development Fund
10:25 Keynote presentation: Uzbekistan’s journey of reform
Shukhrat Abdusharifovich Vafaev, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investments/Chairman, Uzbekistan Reconstruction and Development Fund
10:50 Keynote presentation: UK Export Finance support for trading with Uzbekistan
Vomic Shah, Regional Head - Asia, Middle East, CIS, Europe, UKEF
11:10 Audience Q&A
11:20 Coffee break
11:40 Signing ceremony between UFRD and UKEF
11:50 Keynote presentation: Key projects in Uzbekistan
Bakhodirjon Sidikov, Deputy Chairman, Strategy and Investment, JSC Uzbekneftegaz
12:05 Panel: Project financing and investment opportunities
Bakhodirjon Sidikov, Deputy Chairman, Strategy and Investment, JSC
Uzbekneftegaz
Shukhrat Abdusharifovich Vafaev, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investments
Rodolphe Olard, Managing Director/Global Head of Energy Project Advisory, ING
Moderator: Kamilla Azamat, Partner, Energy and Infrastructure Finance, White & Case
12:40 Panel: Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Aida Sitdikova, Director, Energy & Natural Resources, EBRD
Louis Skyner, Partner, Energy Practice, Dentons
Sherzod Kattakhodjaev, Deputy General Director, JSC National Energy Saving Company, Uzbekistan
Sam Mackilligin, EMEA&I Market Sector Director - Renewable Energies,
AECOM
Moderator: Adrienne Klasa, Development Finance Editor, fDi Magazine and The Banker magazine, Financial Times Group
13:40 Lunch
14:40 Keynote presentation: the business and legal environment in Uzbekistan
Jason Kerr, Senior Partner, Energy and Infrastructure Finance, White & Case
15:00 Panel: practicalities of doing business in Uzbekistan
Lord Ponsonby, Member, House of Lords; former president, British-Uzbek Society
Shukhrat Abdusharifovich Vafaev, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Investments
Bakhodirjon Sidikov, Deputy Chairman, Strategy and Investment, JSC
Uzbekneftegaz
Andrew Woodhead, Regional Director - Central Asia, WorleyParsons

Richard Tollis, Partner/Head of EMEIA Infrastructure Practice, Ernst&Young
Moderator: Courtney Fingar, Editor-in-chief, fDi Magazine, Financial Times Group
15:45 Panel: Culture, education, human capital and society
Abduhalikov Firdavs Fridunovich, Chairman of the Board, National Association of Electronic Media of Uzbekistan

Elmira Gyul, Researcher, Institute of Arts of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan

Jangar Ilyasov, Author, Member, Institute of Art Studies

Moderator: Dr. Shirin Akiner, Author, professor, former Special Advisor to UK Parliamentary on Central Asian States

16:15 Closing address
His Excellency Alisher Shaykhov, Ambassador for the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom
16:25 Chair’s wrap-up
Courtney Fingar, Editor-in-chief, fDi Magazine, Financial Times Group
16:30 Conclusion of event and Networking Reception
19:00 End