Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 29 September, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev held a meeting with Anna Bjerde, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia, during which the current state of affairs was discussed and prospects for deepening further bilateral cooperation.

The parties highly appreciated the results achieved over 30 years of joint work within the investment partnership. During this period, 28 projects worth US$3.6 billion were implemented, aimed at reforming agriculture, modernizing healthcare and education, water supply, improving the financial and transport sectors, and building roads. In addition, 30 investment projects totaling US$5 billion are currently being implemented, aimed at modernizing infrastructure, energy, agriculture, housing and communal services, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving the healthcare and education systems. An agreement was reached to intensify the development of new projects aimed at improving urban infrastructure and budgetary support.

The prospects for expanding the consulting and technical assistance of the Bank’s experts to the implementation of priority reforms in Uzbekistan were discussed. An agreement was reached to provide practical assistance in the preparation of a Strategy for attracting FDI to the regions of Uzbekistan until 2040, in developing a Strategy for the development of the health sector, providing technical assistance aimed at reducing trade barriers, harmonizing technical regulations and digitalizing customs procedures, developing an Export Promotion Strategy and a market-oriented industrial strategy of Uzbekistan, which will ensure balanced industrial growth in all regions of the country.

The parties also discussed the provision by WB experts of support for non-financial activities of the Uzbekistan Economic Empowerment Fund, established in cooperation with the government of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Development Bank. The WB management expressed its readiness to provide the necessary assistance to the activities of the Fund.

Following the meeting, the parties outlined the format for further practical cooperation on the implementation of the agreed areas of cooperation.