On December 12, Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov met with US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and USAID Deputy Administrator Isabelle Coleman.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the parties discussed current state, the ways to advance cooperation between Uzbekistan and USAID, and priority programs and projects.

The chief of USAID reportedly reiterated firm commitment to providing all kinds of assistance in the implementation of the tasks outlined in the Uzbekistan New Development Strategy for 2022-2026. In particular, she announced that USAID intends to closely coordinate its efforts with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), of which it is a member of the Board of Directors.

She welcomed the efforts of the government of Uzbekistan to ensure the openness of public administration, freedom of speech, and the development of civil society and emphasized that this contributes to a broad consideration of the interests of society in the decision-making processes on important issues of socio-political and socio-economic life.

In turn, USAID Deputy Head Isabelle Coleman assured that the agency will continue to implement financial and technical assistance projects, primarily taking into account the priorities of Uzbekistan.

USAID leadership expressed readiness to assist in the modernization of the energy sector, the introduction of renewable energy sources, the development of water management, the improvement of the education system, vocational training and advanced training of young people.

Separately, the importance of drawing USAID assistance to the system of vocational education in order to expand employment opportunities for citizens of Uzbekistan and sustainable economic development of the country was noted.