ADB Delegation Visits Uzbekistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) top-level delegation paid a visit to Uzbekistan on June 4 this year to discuss the prospects for extending and strengthening cooperation.

The management of the ADB Department for Central and Eastern Asia, led by the Director General Juan Miranda discussed the latest achievements in bilateral cooperation and plans for the future at the meetings with the Uzbek officials.

“ADB is glad to assist Uzbekistan in achievement of economic growth through a more intensive support of economic reforms in the country," Mr. Miranda said. “We will be glad to assist the country's economic growth and improvement of living standards of its population."

Also, the parties discussed the establishment of long-term cooperation in the sectors of economy, which the government finds to be especially important and to which ADB may provide quality services. ADB delegation noted on the progress in economic reforms in the country, including the reforms in the management of state finances, and confirmed its readiness to render assistance in the achievement of development goals in Uzbekistan.

This visit is reported to have been the second visit this year, in accordance with the agreement reached by the parties in January 2007, which envisages the organization of regular meetings with an aim to strengthen cooperation.

ADB is considering the possibility of issuing loans for the total amount of US$500 million in the following three years to the priority sectors of economy such as state finance administration, agriculture, public education, urban and rural water supply, transportation, irrigation and micro-financing.

The parties also talked about the possibility of ADB's launching operations in the private sector of Uzbekistan, including investments in commercial banks and telecommunications sector. The two sides expressed their support of the development of long-term country development strategy.