ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE EXPOS FAIL TO ATTRACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2017
TAGS: ECON EIND ETRD EINV ENGR PREL UZ
SUBJECT: ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE EXPOS FAIL TO ATTRACT

REF: A) 06 TASHKENT 001115 B) TASHKENT 01324

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CDA BRAD HANSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).


1. (SBU) Summary: In April, the Agrominitech and Oil and Gas
Expositions opened Uzbekistan's expo season, but attracted
less foreign interest and attention than in 2006. On the
whole, foreign companies continue to avoid investing in
Uzbekistan. Even Russian companies are adversely affected by
the business climate, something the Russian Government has
publically addressed. End Summary.

Agricultural Equipment and Technology
--------------


2. (SBU) The Agrominitech Expo is a venue for foreign and
domestic marketers to exhibit their products and technology
related to food production. This year, little new technology
was actually exhibited and few new companies bothered to
attend. Emboffs counted around 100 participants, half of
what the local media claimed. Companies from Germany,
Russia, Ukraine, China and Belarus exhibited their goods, but
brought fewer examples than in 2006. The majority of these
companies already do business in or with Uzbekistan. Only two
U.S. companies sent representatives: the European branches of
DuPont Chemicals and John Deere. Both companies told Emboffs
they know the market is challenging, but hope to gain
whatever access they can to sell their goods.

Oil and Gas: Where did the Russian Giants Go?
--------------


3. (C) In 2006, to celebrate 15 years of omnipresence,
Russian gas giants Lukoil and Gazprom stormed into Tashkent's
annual oil and gas conference, waving red flags and driving
luxury cars (ref A). In the wake of First Daughter Gulnora
Karimova's opening address in the hotel's ballroom, the gas
CEOs gave speeches on a new era of cooperation with
Uzbekistan.


4. (SBU) This year, expo attendees were subjected to standing
on scorching concrete, listening to an unnamed presenter
dribble out the list of countries involved in Uzbekistan's
oil and gas sector. As sweat began to color the backs of the
attendees, the presenter introduced the distinguished guests,
who were sitting under a hastily-built awning. These
included the ambassadors from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, the
Czech Republic, Germany and France. The U.S. Ambassador was
not invited this year.


5. (SBU) The expo participants included numerous Russian
equipment manufacturers. The majority of these are
subcontractors of Lukoil and Gazprom, do not operate in
Uzbekistan and do not intend to do so: they sell their
equipment in Russia to the Russians, not the Uzbeks. As with
the Agricultural Expo, few U.S. companies were present.
Although U.S. petroleum equipment manufacturing firms have
offices worldwide, including Kazakhstan, only Baker Hughes
operates in Uzbekistan.


6. (SBU) Comment: The Russian energy giants' absence was
conspicuous, leaving Chevron-Texaco as the only international
energy sponsor and major energy brand. Russian Embassy
officials continue to report that Russian companies are
increasingly frustrated by GOU business practices. During
Russian Foreign Minister Fradkov's visit to Tashkent in March
2007, he, in response to GOU assertions that Gazprom and
Lukoil had only invested one third the amount promised,
publicly stated that Uzbekistan owes Russia over USD 700
million in loan repayments. The Russian Ambassador also
noted to Charge that much of Russian Deputy PM Ivanov's
recent visit was devoted to sorting out business issues,
includes convertibility (ref B).
HANSON