VZCZCXRO8955
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #1852 2980840
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250840Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8653
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3382
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9588
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3998
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3861
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1936
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001852
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL PGOV AF UZ
SUBJECT: GANIEV ON UZBEK ECONOMY AND AFGHAN ELECTRICITY
REF: A. A. TASHKENT 1678
B. B. TASHKENT 1760
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED--PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) Ambassador made a courtesy call on the Uzbek
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Elyor
Ganiev, on October 23. The GOU now is granting the
Ambassador meetings with officials approximately once a week.
Ganiev reiterated a number of points expressed at his
meeting with Charge in September (ref A), including the
continued "impressive" growth of the Uzbek economy,
Uzbekistan's desire to attract technological investment, and
the open and profitable investment climate Uzbekistan offers
foreign investors.
2. (SBU) Ganiev believes that the recent GM-DAT joint venture
with UzDaewoo (ref B) will send a signal to other investors
that Uzbekistan has great potential, is a good place for U.S.
investment and is a serious partner. It also sends a signal,
he said, that large U.S. companies can invest in Central Asia
for the long term.
3. (SBU) Ambassador raised the importance of expanding the
electricity supply to Afghanistan. Ganiev said the Uzbek
side needs more concrete information, such as the total costs
involved in building and how much Uzbekistan will receive for
the electricity, as "Uzbekistan will not export for less than
the cost" to provide. He also said Uzbekistan is quickly
growing and needs to improve its own energy supply, however
they "have not closed the door to cooperation, but we need
more concrete information."
NORLAND