On May 18, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a World Bank delegation led by Vice President Anna Bjerde.
Current issues of further enhancing the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the World Bank Group, increasing the level of practical interaction to ensure sustainable development in Uzbekistan and the region were discussed.
The President of Uzbekistan sincerely congratulated Anna Bjerde on her appointment as Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia and wished her great success.
The current highest level of cooperation, which has been brought to a qualitatively new stage by joint efforts in recent years, was noted with deep satisfaction.
It was emphasized that the implementation of the program of market transformations and social reforms continues in Uzbekistan with the full support of the Bank.
A roadmap is being implemented with a set of specific measures to promote projects with the participation of the World Bank Group. The Country Platform system has been introduced.
The total portfolio of projects reaches $7 billion. The current program includes 23 ongoing projects worth $4.1 billion, covering such priority areas as education, health, energy, water supply, agriculture, transport and many other areas.
The World Bank was one of the first to provide assistance to cope with the consequences of the pandemic. Last year alone, new projects worth $1.6 billion were approved.
In addition, the Bank’s experts are providing advisory and technical assistance, participating in the implementation of the transformation of state-owned enterprises, the modernization of the transport sector and agriculture, and the reform of all links of the electric power industry. Progress has been made in introducing renewable energy sources.
During this visit, agreements were signed on the implementation of projects to improve the water supply system and support the national innovation policy worth about $300 million.
At the meeting, an agreement was reached on the thorough preparation and adoption of a new five-year Partnership Program of Uzbekistan with the World Bank.
Vice President Anna Bjerde noted that the Bank highly appreciates and intends to continue providing the necessary support in the implementation of economic and social reforms in the country.
The Vice President of the World Bank noted that Uzbekistan has carried out the large-scale activity in a short historical period. The reforms have changed the country fundamentally, both internally and externally. Thanks to this, today Uzbekistan is attractive for foreign investors.
The new agenda proposed by the President of Uzbekistan for further enhancing multifaceted cooperation with the World Bank was fully supported.
It includes the following specific areas of partnership:
- support for reforms aimed at reducing poverty in the country, primarily through the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas, promotion of business initiatives of women and youth;
- increasing the efficiency of transformations in higher education and healthcare to achieve tangible results and improve the quality of services;
- implementation of the program of accelerated industrialization of the regions of the country and continuation of the project for the development of mid-sized cities;
- transition to an innovative development model, the introduction of a green economy;
- continuation of reforms in land relations;
- fighting corruption and increasing the potential of state development institutions;
- joint promotion of large regional infrastructure projects.
Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on the continuation of constant contacts and fruitful exchanges to maintain high dynamics of interaction, and accelerate the preparation and implementation of priority programs and projects of strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the World Bank.
UzA