In the next three years, KOICA will assist Uzbekistan in medicine, education and digitalization to combat COVID-19 and support economic growth.

During the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Korea, an MoU on KOICA – Uzbekistan grant assistance program for 2022-2024 was signed with the participation of KOICA President Sohn Hyuk-Sang and Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov.

According to the document, 5 out of 14 officially approved joint projects are new. In accordance with the agreement, provision of gratuitous assistance for $88 million is provided for these projects. Trainings will also continue, and programs for the direction of volunteers will be implemented.

Uzbekistan is an important strategic partner of the Government of the Republic of Korea in the Central Asian region. South Korea is planning to implement a new $14.15 million project in Uzbekistan in the coming year to improve the technology for diagnosing infectious diseases and expand the capabilities of epidemiological situation management.

With the help of Kookmin and Yonsei Universities, it is planned to allocate $10 million to improve educational curricula, increase the potential of professors and teachers, support researchers at Tashkent University of Information Technology and Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute.

It was noted that KOICA is ready to provide support to Uzbekistan also in other areas within the framework of the memorandum. A grant program will also be offered.

Over the past 30 years, the Korean Government has provided Uzbekistan with grants for $160 million. More than 30 projects and consulting programs are being implemented in healthcare, education and public administration (e-government).

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA