Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 9-10 December, a delegation from the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited Wales on a business trip.

During the visit, meetings were held with representatives of Meridiam and the Welsh government, focusing on social sector projects and the educational cooperation program of Wales, known as the Welsh Education Partnership (WEP).

The WEP program is part of the Welsh government’s initiative to develop "Schools of the 21st Century." This program involves comprehensive planning, financing, design, recruiting qualified builders, construction, operation, and the subsequent return of public schools to state ownership for 25-30 years.

The discussions explored the features of the WEP model, its benefits for the state, the educational policy directions of Wales, and the role of WEP in these processes. Particular attention was given to adapting this model to Uzbekistan’s conditions. The delegation also studied the structure of social sector projects implemented within the WEP framework, the mechanisms of their operation, and the financing conditions. The delegation visited active schools built under this model.

Meridiam, a global investor and asset manager, specializes in social infrastructure projects. The school project implemented in Wales within the WEP model is recognized as an innovative approach to developing and managing educational infrastructure, effectively combining private sector experience with state control.