Shigeo Katsu was accompanied by Annette Dixon, Country Director for Central Asia, Shahbaz Mavvadat, IFC Director for Southern Europe and Central Asia (SECA), and Gorton de Mond, IFC Regional Representative in Central Asia.

The agenda of Katsu’s visit included meetings with Rustam Azimov, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Faizullo Mullajonov, Chairman of Central Bank, World Bank Governor for Uzbekistan, other high rank government officials representing key ministries.

The discussions covered the reform progress, the support to the Welfare Improvement Strategy (WIS) adopted by the government and the World Bank’s planned future support as presented in the draft 2008 Country Assistance Strategy.

During his meetings with Uzbekistan officials Shigeo Katsu discussed how the Bank can most effectively help Uzbekistan achieve its objectives of successful economic reforms. He and his associates also met with the representatives of the donor community, civil society and mass media.

"I am pleased to note that since my last visit in April 2006, Uzbekistan has been intensively working on elaborating Welfare Improvement Strategy, which is now under implementation", said Shigeo Katsu, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.

"The Bank’s new assistance program being currently developed will be focused on supporting WIS in such areas as sustaining high rates of growth and poverty reduction; strengthening human development and improving quality of life; environmental and land management and global public goods provision," he added.

"The Bank will continue making investments that have direct impact on income and quality of life of Uzbek citizens, support deepening of sectoral reforms and address global public goods and climate change issues," Shigeo Katsu said.

Katsu met a group of young people gathered in the World Bank country office on 30 January. The discussion focused on how the Bank could further support youth initiatives proceeding from positive experience gained during a number of events implemented by the country office and youth organizations of Uzbekistan.

The Vice President also launched a small photo exhibition "Agriculture for Development" opened in Public Information Center (PIC) displaying in a flash the impact of the WB projects in rural areas.

Uzbekistan joined the World Bank in 1992. The Bank’s mission in the country is to improve people’s livelihoods through being a partner in economic reforms, supporting the modernization of the country’s social sectors and infrastructure, and sharing its knowledge and experience with the government and the people of Uzbekistan. Total World Bank commitments to Uzbekistan amount to US$654 million.