b) encouraging private-sector development activities, including through support for the development of small and medium-sized business, and other areas of mutual interest. c) establishing in Uzbekistan the conditions essential to attract foreign investment, facilitating the use of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) programs for investment projects, privatization of large government-owned enterprises, development of small and medium-sized private business and the infrastructure of international tourism, as well as in other spheres of the nation’s economy; and d) expanding reciprocal access to markets of goods, labor and services, including working toward terminating the application of Jackson-Vanik Amendment provisions and toward Permanent Normal Trade Relations status for the Republic of Uzbekistan, and assistance from appropriate United States government entities in the process of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO. Article 3.5 Expansion of Regional Cooperation in Central Asia The Sides reaffirm their goal of expanding and intensifying regional cooperation in Central Asia, and the desirability of providing assistance in strengthening friendly and neighborly relations among the countries of the region in matters relating to: -- comprehensive development of economic relations among the nations of the Central Asian region; -- formulation of effective forms and mechanisms for implementing agreements aimed at expanding reciprocal trade and investment among the nations of the region and beyond, including the development of common customs and tariff regimes consistent with WTO rules; stupsertod stup9site