Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A special meeting of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development took place in London, during which the EBRD Governor from Uzbekistan, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov made an address on current issues of cooperation with the EBRD and proposals by its expansion. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

The presentation highlighted the main directions of transformations in Uzbekistan in the light of the recent parliamentary elections, achievements in terms of carrying out structural reforms in the socio-economic sphere, analysis of cooperation with international financial institutions and, in particular, with the EBRD.

The message also reflected the position of Uzbekistan on the main issues of the strategic development of the EBRD in the medium term, and in this context the need was substantiated for a radical increase in the effectiveness of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EBRD with an increase in the volume of new economically and socially significant projects in priority sectors.

Also, as part of the message, a presentation was made on the proposal to hold the Annual Meeting of the EBRD Governing Council in 2023. in Samarkand, which caused a positive reaction from the members of the Council and the management of the Bank - Samarkand is currently by all criteria one of the main contenders for the right to host this event.

During the subsequent session of questions and comments, members of the Council expressed full support for initiatives and transformations in Uzbekistan, including liberalization of the economy by reforming priority sectors, launching the privatization of state-owned enterprises, integration into the global economic space by actively working on joining the World Trade Organization, and strengthening regional collaboration.

Following the meeting, the proposals put forward by Uzbekistan were supported by the leadership of the Bank represented by President S. Chakrabarti and unanimously adopted by the members of the Board of Directors.

Also, a ceremony of signing an agreement on providing long-term financing to the Republic of Uzbekistan for the construction and reconstruction of public roads of public importance in the Khorezm region was held.

Further, the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade held a series of meetings with the EBRD leadership in the person of President S. Chakrabarti, First Vice-President J. Rigtering, Vice-President A. Pillow, Secretary General E. Quattrochocca, Member of the Board of Directors R. Winzap, and Director for A. Kuusveka region of Central Asia, during which issues of current cooperation and plans for the near future were discussed in more detail.

A separate meeting was held with compatriots working at the EBRD headquarters - reform processes in Uzbekistan, prospects for expanding investment cooperation with international financial institutions, including the EBRD, issues of improving the activities of state structures and bodies were discussed in an open dialogue format. The importance of having highly qualified specialists from Uzbekistan abroad as a valuable reserve for effectively facilitating the improvement of the country's economic system was emphasized and urgent areas were identified where the experience and knowledge of such specialists could be very useful.

In turn, the EBRD staff shared their views and suggestions on existing opportunities and tools applicable for the implementation of economically significant and socially oriented projects in Uzbekistan.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on establishing close cooperation by exchanging information, ideas and suggestions, while not excluding the possibility of attracting compatriots to work in Uzbekistan.