On 28 January 2026 a meeting was held in the city of Nukus between the public association DMO Karakalpakstan and the Director of the Representation of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Uzbekistan, Mr. Olivier Grandvoinnet, along with members of his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for strengthening international cooperation in the field of tourism. The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, R. Zarikeev, welcomed the guests and introduced the main directions for the development of the tourism sector in the region, emphasizing Karakalpakstan’s openness to mutually beneficial cooperation. The event was also attended by A. Kurbanov, a representative of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Karakalpakstan.

During the meeting, the Director of DMO Karakalpakstan, M. Kosnazarov, presented the organization’s activities, its key achievements and ongoing initiatives, as well as the tourism potential of Karakalpakstan, highlighting the region’s unique natural and cultural attractions.

Special attention was paid to sustainable tourism development, promotion of cultural heritage, and improving the quality of life of the local population. The participants also discussed prospects for cooperation with French tourism organizations and investors, the development of geoparks, gastronomic tourism, and archaeological and historical sites, as well as joint promotion of the region at international exhibitions and forums.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in further developing cooperation and emphasized the importance of strengthening partnership ties aimed at promoting the tourism potential of Karakalpakstan and forming a positive image of the region on the international stage.