Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, prospects for establishing a joint venture for seed potato cultivation between the Republic of Karelia and Uzbekistan were discussed. The initiative was announced by the Head of Karelia, Artur Parfenchikov, following his meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev.

"We see great potential in fostering partnerships in the agricultural sector. In particular, we are considering launching a joint project to cultivate seed potatoes tailored to Uzbekistan’s needs. Currently, the country imports a significant portion of its seed material from distant foreign suppliers. Cooperation with Uzbek partners could lead to a highly promising project," Parfenchikov stated.

He added that a delegation of agricultural experts and scientists from Uzbekistan is expected to visit Karelia in the near future to further explore the initiative in detail.

Parfenchikov also emphasized that cooperation between the two regions is developing dynamically: in the first quarter of 2025, Karelia’s foreign trade with Uzbekistan increased by nearly 20% compared to the same period last year. The export structure is dominated by paper, cardboard, pulp, wood and wood products, as well as processed grain and flour-based products.