How can tourism benefit the economy? What is the potential of tourism in Uzbekistan? What are the concrete, positive effects of tourism and how can tourism be boosted in the region? These questions and many more were addressed at the “Tourism and its Economic Impact” seminar held on Tuesday, May 4, within the framework of the Asian Development Bank’s 43rd Annual Meeting in Tashkent. The seminar was sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan and held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental.

According to the established practice, the beginning of 2010 was marked by changes in the tax policy of Uzbekistan. A number of norms of the Tax Code have been updated.

Q. : Mr Beaujean, you have been living in Uzbekistan a long time, and you know our country very well. On the other hand, you are a European. Our newspaper is interested to know your vision and analysis of the tourism sector and its potential for development. What about tourism in Europe?

More than 2,000 years ago, China and the great Roman Empire were two separate universes connected only by a mysterious network of caravan routes that today we call the Silk Road. An international road of historical significance, the Silk Road is an ancient passageway that has connected the civilizations of China, India, Persia, and Arabia with those in Greece and Rome for centuries, thus promoting an interchange between East and West.

The Tax and Investment Committee plans the following in 2009. 1. Assist AmCham member companies in accessing Uzbek authorities: • Arrange at least two meetings for AmCham member companies with Director of UzInfoInvest, Mr. Bakhtior Irmatov, (the first in February and one or more in the second or third quarter of 2009).

Calendar of AmCham events