The city of Samarkand will become the first city in Uzbekistan to improve sustainability planning by joining the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s flagship €3 billion Green Cities program in 2021.

At a meeting of the leadership of the hokimiyats of Samarkand region and the city of Samarkand with a delegation led by the Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Central Asia, Zsuzsanna Hargitai, it was announced that the implementation of the first of the four stages of this project had begun.

It provides for the development of the “Green City” concept, the renewal of the urban infrastructure and transport system, the use of renewable energy sources, ensuring environmental cleanliness by regulating the management of solid domestic waste, and supporting “green” financing. An action plan including these measures was prepared by a group of international and domestic consultants based on the results of the analysis and assessment of the main environmental problems, the city’s action plan for the next 15 years.

The head of the region Erkinjon Turdimov noted that this project serves to determine the strategic goals of the city of Samarkand, which is becoming a major tourist center, measures to solve environmental problems, attract investments. The EBRD’s Managing Director for Central Asia, Zsuzsanna Hargitai, said the bank has allocated more than 5 billion euros to finance green economy programs that cover over 50 countries.

At the meeting, an agreement was reached to hold the first meeting on the project with the participation of interested parties in May this year.

Golib Khasanov, UzA