JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan have agreed to cooperation in the sectors of energy and employment. The energy and employment cooperation agreements were among a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) that were signed during an official visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Kingdom. The signing ceremony was held following official talks between Mirziyoyev and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, at the Royal Court of Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday. The two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony. The agreement for cooperation in the field of energy was signed by Saudi Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet for Shoura Council Affairs and acting Minister of Energy Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed and Uzbek First Deputy Minister of Energy Azim Ahmed Khodjayev. A cooperation agreement for the employment of laborers from Uzbekistan was inked by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Jamshid Khodjaev. Uzbekistan has proven reserves of natural gas equivalent to 42.7 times its annual consumption and the country ranked 19th in the world with one percent of the world's total natural gas reserves. In recent years, Uzbekistan has emerged as a new labor exporting market in the world. The two countries also signed an agreement for cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. The pact was signed by Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih, and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Khodjaev. Several MoUs covering wide-ranging fields were also signed by ministers and senior officials of both countries. These included cooperation in the field of Islamic affairs; cooperation and exchange of news between the news agencies of the two countries; cooperation in the field of veterinary and livestock development; cooperation in the field of agriculture; cooperation in the health field; enhancing cooperation in the field of sports; and scientific and technical cooperation, in addition to MoUs in the fields of human rights; and education and science, as well as in continuing the existing MoU in the field of air transport services.
