France and Uzbekistan's Fergana Region are stepping up cooperation across education, agriculture, and winemaking, signaling deepening regional partnerships between the two countries.

During a working visit, French Ambassador to Uzbekistan Walid Fouque met with Fergana governor Khayrullo Bozorov to discuss expanding collaboration in key sectors, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Both sides noted that strong ties between national leaders have laid a solid foundation for growing cooperation at regional and industry levels.

Among notable projects, French company Poma is already involved in developing tourism infrastructure in Fergana, while joint initiatives in winemaking are gaining momentum.

The talks also focused on future cooperation in agriculture, the food industry, and both primary and higher education. Plans are underway to host a festival promoting French expertise in viticulture and winemaking, aimed at boosting exports and introducing modern technologies.

France is also looking to attract more Uzbek students to its universities, particularly at the master’s level, while exploring partnerships with local educational institutions. Proposals to establish specialized schools with advanced French language programs were also discussed.

Regional authorities expressed strong support for these initiatives, highlighting the importance of inviting French businesses to upcoming wine festivals and strengthening partnerships between cities in the Fergana Valley and their international counterparts.