Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 January, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the World Bank delegation led by Vice President Cyril Muller.

The World Bank Group is a leading global financial institution, a strategic partner of Uzbekistan in implementation of a new program of socio-economic transformations.

The bank’s experts are actively involved in formation of proposals and promoting effective reforms in Uzbekistan in the banking, financial and tax spheres, agriculture and water management, geology, education, improving the investment climate and business environment, and other priority areas.

Today, the portfolio of implemented and ongoing World Bank projects in Uzbekistan reaches US$5.5 billion.

Last year, the bank approved new promising projects worth up to US$1 billion. The auction on construction of a solar power station in Navoi region, as well as presentation of the Country Platform in the city of Washington, were successfully held.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that all these achievements are the result of close interaction, an open and constructive dialogue between Uzbekistan and the World Bank.

In turn, Cyril Muller conveyed the sincere greetings of the World Bank Group President David Malpass and renewed the bank’s assurances of full support for the reforms program in Uzbekistan.

Current issues and promising areas of bilateral cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

Particular attention was paid to issues of expanding assistance in promoting reforms in key areas, including agriculture, energy, the oil and gas industry, the transport sector and other areas, as well as in implementation of joint projects in the fight against poverty.

An agreement was reached on development of a new long-term Partnership Strategy of Uzbekistan and the World Bank.