Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov met with the Director at the Urban Development and Water Division, South Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the sidelines of the 21st session of the UN Committee to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Note: 17 percent of the projects carried out by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the regions of Central and Western Asia are being implemented in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan ranked second in the region in terms of this figure. This year, 25 projects worth about $3.5 billion have been signed.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the integrated urban development, building the skills of personnel in the field of ecology, and attracting Japanese waste recycling companies to Uzbekistan.

While, Norio Saito proposed starting the 2nd stage of the project “Sustainable Solid Waste Management” for 2025-2026. He also noted that he supports the reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change on the basis of public-private partnership.

At the end of the meeting, Norio Saito highly commended the work being done in Uzbekistan in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and the fight against drought and famine. While, he noted that ADB was ready to continue cooperation in this direction.

Note: On December 23, 2022, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the Ministry of Environment of Japan. According to the memorandum, cooperation between the parties is being strengthened in the field of climate change, water and air pollution, and waste management.