President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as part of his program of engagements in the city of Samarkand, hosted the president of the Asian Development Bank Masato Kanda.
At the outset of the meeting, the ADB chief extended sincere gratitude to the Uzbek leader for his support and assistance in hosting the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Bank in Uzbekistan.
The two sides reviewed the practical dimensions of expanding full-scale, mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank.
The exceptional level of partnership achieved over the years was noted with deep satisfaction. Over three decades of engagement, the ADB has become a genuine strategic partner of Uzbekistan.
The project portfolio has reached nearly $16 billion, placing Uzbekistan among the Bank's largest partners in the region by volume of operations.
A range of significant projects have been completed or are currently underway, spanning the modernization of rail and road infrastructure, energy and social infrastructure, the rehabilitation of water supply and sewage networks, agricultural development, private sector growth, and a number of other priority areas.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the ADB President underscored the importance of timely and effective implementation of the $12.5 billion in projects included in the new Uzbekistan–ADB Partnership Program through 2030, which was signed on the sidelines of the summit.
Agreement was reached on joint work across a range of priority areas, including support for the mortgage market, private sector development, youth and women's entrepreneurship, poverty reduction, the advancement of inclusive education reforms and human capital development, the introduction of digital innovation, and infrastructure modernization in special economic zones.
Particular attention was given to advancing large-scale infrastructure projects across the Central Asian region, including through strengthening the Bank's leading role in mobilizing financing.
In closing, the President Mirziyoyev wished the ADB leadership and its team a successful and productive Board of Governors meeting.
The meeting concluded with a signing ceremony marking the exchange of the Uzbekistan–ADB Partnership Program through 2030.
