Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - A press conference was held at the Information and Mass Communications Agency on the results of the work of the Agency for the Development of Public-Private Partnerships under the Ministry of Finance for the first half of 2019 and plans for the future.

According to the director of the Agency, Golib Kholjigitov, the most important step for the organization’s effective activity in the first half of this year was the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Public-Private Partnership”, which meets international standards. In addition, the Agency prepared and sent to the ministries and departments a model public-private partnership agreement, which is important for PPP processes and can be applied in many areas.

As noted, currently the priority areas of public-private partnerships are: production of electricity, development of transport infrastructure (airports, etc.), social sectors (health, preschool and secondary education), telecommunications, utilities (water, sewage, heat , solid waste), agriculture and water management, tourism.

“The Agency, together with ministries and departments, is working to attract foreign direct investment in 17 PPP projects for a total of US$10 billion,” said Golib Kholjigitov. - Two large projects worth more than US$100 million will be implemented with the support of the International Finance Corporation. Tenders for the construction of a solar photopower plant with a total capacity of 100 MW in Navoi region and the creation of a hemodialysis center have already taken place. More than 50 large foreign investors expressed interest in participating in the tender process for these projects.”

It was explained that the Agency, with the support of the Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation, intends to promote an increase in the capacity of solar photovoltaic power plants in the republic by 2,000 MW so that the production of electricity with their participation will reach 5,000 MW by 2030.

In partnership with the MASDAR from the UAE, it is planned to create a 500 MW wind farm based on the G2G (government to government) project. A Memorandum on the construction of power plants with a capacity of 1,000 MW was also signed with the European Development Bank.

On the basis of PPP, projects such as the modernization of international airports, the construction of the Tashkent-Andijan and Tashkent-Samarkand highways, the opening of sterilization, rehabilitation and oncology centers in the health care system, and the creation of a network of social pharmacies are being prepared for implementation.

A number of projects will be implemented in the field of agriculture, water and utilities, and other industries.