Uzbekistan and Hungary are consistently stepping up cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors, the Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriev told the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
One of the key areas is the development of air traffic. Last year, direct flights were launched between Tashkent and Budapest, operated by Qanot Sharq. The Hungarian airlines, including Wizz Air and Hungarian Airlines, have also shown interest in this route.
Uzbek airlines are also showing interest, and wish to not only fly to Hungary, but also fly further to New York and other European countries using the fifth degree of freedom, which the Hungarian authorities had recently granted to Uzbekistan.
"We are discussing these flights. This will require the registration of technical documents by the aviation authorities. We are planning to complete this technical matter within a month. This will pave the way not only for our passengers, but also for tourists from European countries to Uzbekistan,” he said.
According to him, the parties are also discussing air cargo transportation and vowed to reach an agreement before winter.
The Deputy Minister of Transport underscored that Hungarian investors were also interested in developing logistics hubs in Uzbekistan, given the growing importance of the Middle (Trans-Caspian) Corridor, as well as the strategic location of Uzbekistan.
With the development of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail road, which will make the country the intersection of all railway lines in the region, Uzbekistan's role in the new transport corridors will be key - not only for the CIS countries, but also for European countries, including Hungary, the Deputy Minister of Transport emphasized.
"We are receiving technologies that Hungary possesses, and are developing in this area the possibility of creating joint ventures and producing these parts with subsequent export to third countries," the Deputy Minister of Transport concluded.
