According to a recent report citing the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the world’s largest potato breeding companies, Meijer, held talks with the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Netherlands concerning a possible future collaboration.

The meeting focused on discussing strategies for the further expansion of production and export of value-added products from Uzbekistan including the commissioning of Central Asia’s first processing facility for potato chips that will be based on Dutch technologies.

Following the talks, the two sides agreed to organize several visits of Uzbek delegations to the Netherlands in the upcoming weeks (January/February) to discuss specific projects.

The Uzbek parties will be tasked with holding negotiations for establishing a future joint venture related to growing seed potatoes, but also for setting up a potato cluster in the Bakhmal district in the Jizzakh region in Uzbekistan.

Additionally, Uzbekistan’s membership in the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) was acknowledged during the consultative session. Moreover, the agricultural reforms initiated by Uzbek President Shavkat Miriyoyev and the attraction of foreign investors to this industry caught the attention of foreign partners.

Meijer, which was founded in 1920, is currently led by CEO Erika den Daas.