Last week, an event was held in Tashkent to celebrate the national holiday of the Netherlands. Ahead of the diplomatic event, Kun.uz spoke with the Dutch ambassador accredited to Kazakhstan and responsible for Central Asia, Nico Schermers.

According to the ambassador, Uzbek cotton enjoys a good reputation on the Dutch market, and the main cooperation programs focus on agriculture and water resources. The Netherlands established diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan in 1992, but political dialogue between the two countries is not very active.

On May 15, Tashkent celebrated King's Day, one of the national holidays of the Netherlands. In his congratulatory speech, the ambassador noted the Netherlands' growing interest in Uzbekistan.

When asked about the weak political dialogue, Schermers attributed it to geographical distance and lack of shared history. “This region was inhabited by land nomads, while my country was sea travelers. Historically, we unfortunately never met,” he said.

Regarding the absence of a Dutch embassy in Tashkent, the diplomat countered: “Why hasn't Uzbekistan opened an embassy in the Netherlands?” and added that until 2016, Uzbekistan was a closed country, which reduced interest.

Among the most promising areas for investment, the ambassador highlighted water management and agriculture, particularly the introduction of Dutch technologies. He emphasized Uzbekistan's vast opportunities if the right technologies are adopted.

Source: kun.uz