WNAM REPORT: The business program of the first “Central Asia – European Union” summit began on April 3 with a meeting between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso.
The practical aspects of advancing comprehensive cooperation between Uzbekistan and this reputable international financial institution were discussed.
The current exceptionally high level of strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the EBRD was expressed with deep satisfaction. The portfolio of joint projects in priority sectors continues to grow steadily. The Bank’s cumulative investments in Uzbekistan’s economy have exceeded €5 billion, including nearly €1 billion in the past year alone. The majority of financial support is directed toward the private sector.
The medium-term Country Partnership Strategy is being effectively implemented. With expert support from the EBRD, measures are underway to transform the banking sector and expand opportunities for business development.
At the meeting, the parties noted the results of joint efforts to improve the quality and increase the efficiency of project implementation. The importance of optimizing procedures and accelerating project preparation was emphasized. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in key areas, including the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, support for women’s and youth entrepreneurship, and scaling up public-private partnership (PPP) projects, such as those in education, water supply, and municipal waste management.
Priority areas of cooperation were identified as programs and projects in the green economy, decarbonization, digitalization, and artificial intelligence, as well as the development of the mortgage market, transport communications, and others.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on the preparation and organization of the upcoming Tashkent International Investment Forum and the next meeting of the Foreign Investors Council, scheduled for June this year.
