Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov has met with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso, who arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects for deepening cooperation between the EBRD and Uzbekistan in priority areas.

Further steps were considered for the practical implementation of the EBRD Country Strategy for Uzbekistan for 2018-2023, the key areas of which are to support the development of the private sector, enhance regional and international cooperation, and promote clean energy and resource solutions in all sectors of the country’s economy.

The course of investment cooperation was studied: the portfolio of projects implemented in Uzbekistan with the involvement of EBRD financial resources consists of 57 projects worth 1.7 billion euros. The parties discussed further joint actions to accelerate the promotion of current projects, the aspects of new project initiatives, agreements on which are planned to be signed during the Tashkent International Investment Forum.

The main attention was paid to enhancing cooperation in the textile industry. The EBRD President welcomed the lifting of the boycott of Uzbek textiles by the Cotton Campaign and expressed her readiness to assist in attracting foreign private sector companies to implement projects in Uzbekistan.

The parties considered the prospects for expanding the activities of the EBRD in Uzbekistan regions. The prospects for deepening partnerships in supporting the development of women’s entrepreneurship were also discussed.

Following the meeting, further actions were identified to promote joint programs and initiatives considered during the talks.

UzA