BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Uzbek President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Bank Vice President for Europe
and Central Asia Antonella Bassani to discuss expanding strategic
cooperation on economic reforms, private sector development and
sustainable growth, while reviewing the World Bank's more than $15
billion project portfolio in Uzbekistan.
This was reflected in the statement published by the press
service of the Uzbek president.
Bassani, who is visiting Uzbekistan to attend a meeting of the
World Bank's Swiss Constituency, conveyed greetings from World Bank
President Ajay Banga to Mirziyoyev.
The talks focused on deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan
and the World Bank Group in support of the country's structural
reform agenda, with both sides highlighting what they described as
an unprecedented level of bilateral engagement in recent years.
According to the presidential press service, the World Bank's
portfolio of projects in Uzbekistan has exceeded $15 billion, while
the bank's regional office in Tashkent continues to support the
implementation of new financing instruments and development
initiatives.
"The strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the World Bank
has reached an unprecedented level, with cooperation expanding
across the country's key economic and social reform priorities,"
the presidential press service said.
The two sides emphasized the importance of preparing for
upcoming visits by senior World Bank officials and agreed to
continue work on a new long-term Country Partnership Framework
designed to support Uzbekistan's socio-economic development.
Discussions also focused on expanding the use of World Bank
financing instruments to support small and medium-sized
enterprises, reduce poverty, advance the privatization of
state-owned enterprises and promote the adoption of artificial
intelligence across key sectors of the economy.
Water sector financing, human capital development and efforts to
improve Uzbekistan's standing in international rankings were also
identified as priority areas for future cooperation.
The meeting reflects the World Bank's growing role in supporting
Uzbekistan's reform agenda as the country pursues market-oriented
policies aimed at strengthening the private sector, modernizing
public institutions and attracting foreign investment. With a
project portfolio exceeding $15 billion, the World Bank is one of
Uzbekistan's largest multilateral development partners, financing
initiatives spanning infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education
and public sector modernization.
