Uzbek Leader Holds Talks In Latvia

Latvian President Andris Berzins (right) and Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov pose in front of their national flags as they meet in Riga on October 17.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov is holding talks in the Latvian capital, Riga, with President Andris Berzins.

The two leaders are due to discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues and sign several documents in the political, economic, trade, and environmental spheres.

At a Latvian-Uzbek economic forum on October 16 in Riga, Uzbek officials discussed establishing a distribution center in Latvia for Uzbek fruit and vegetables.

Elyor Ganiev, Uzbekistan's foreign-economic-relations, investment, and trade minister, said the produce available in Latvian stores frequently tasted like "rubber."

Last year, trade turnover between the two countries was more than $243 million.

Between January 1 and July 1 of this year, trade turnover was estimated to be close to $126 million.

With reporting by Uz24.uz, Trend.az, and Baltic-course.com