Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 20 May, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan held talks with an Austrian business delegation led by Andreas Reichhardt, Deputy Minister of Finance and Director General for Telecommunications, Postal Services, and the Mining Industry at Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance.

From the Uzbek side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Samandar Sadullaev, representatives of the National Energy Efficiency Agency, and heads and specialists of relevant departments. The discussions were constructive and focused on the practical implementation of priority areas of bilateral cooperation.

Key topics included opportunities to increase energy efficiency, modernize heating systems, and introduce innovative solutions across various sectors of the economy through joint projects. The parties also addressed the preparation and signing of a memorandum of cooperation in the energy sector.

The Austrian delegation proposed expanding collaboration in several areas, including the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their operations and foster sustainable growth. Further discussions centered on the digital transformation of tax audit and administration, aiming to enhance transparency, oversight, and efficiency in fiscal management. Cybersecurity and the improvement of the legal and institutional framework for information security and legislative reforms were also key points of interest.

The Uzbek side expressed strong interest in learning from Austria’s experience in energy-saving technologies, implementing smart urban development solutions, and emphasized the importance of jointly developing infrastructure projects.

This meeting marks an important step toward a new phase of economic and technological cooperation between Uzbekistan and Austria, focused on supporting mutually beneficial initiatives and strengthening bilateral ties.