Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov held a meeting with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti.

Suma Chakrabarti in his speech emphasized the readiness of the EBRD to support the implementation of reforms in Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the dynamics of economic transformations and reforms carried out in the Republic in recent years. The importance of developing public-private partnership was emphasized, along with the question of the further privatization of state-owned enterprises and banks.

It was also proposed to continue and accelerate the implementation of the project to build a toll highway Tashkent-Samarkand until 2023.

The need to introduce corporate management methods in state-owned companies was discussed. In the near future, an international consultant will be attracted for this purpose.

In conclusion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development regarding the Strategic Cooperation on the reform of the mining sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The representative office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development officially resumed its activities in Uzbekistan in November 2017. In 2018, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the EBRD signed loan agreements in the amount of US$382.5 million, for 5 months of 2019 in the amount of US$240 million. EBRD projects focus on small business, financial sector, transport infrastructure and energy.