Building Bridges: A journey of collaboration and success along the Silk Road

I believe Kazakhstan businessmen and businesswomen must work hand in hand with our colleagues in other Central Asian nations. Those of us born somewhere along the Silk Road are united by more than merely history.

With this spirit, I traveled a few days ago to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where I had the privilege of meeting with my friend Jakhongir Artikkhodjayev, an outstanding Entrepreneur (really, in capital letters) and an example of what global Central Asian success looks like.

Mr. Artikkhodjayev is a true titan of business and the founder of none other than Artel and Akfa. These two Uzbekistan-born multinational conglomerates employ tens of thousands of employees and generate general wealth and progress for their country and Asia at large.

Akfa Group is Uzbekistan's leading manufacturer and exporter of aluminum and plastic profiles and a fundamental actor in the regional construction scene.

Artel Group is one of the fastest-growing electronic companies in the world, with its own state-of-the-art R&D facilities and global partnerships with household names such as Samsung. Its products can be found in over 20 countries.

I can only say that I am looking forward to announcing, soon, joint projects with Jakhongir's companies.