BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. The Eurasian
Development Bank (EDB) received three awards from the Association
of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific
(ADFIAP) for sustainable development projects implemented in
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan during the 49th ADFIAP
Annual Meeting in Colombo in September.
According to a statement issued by the EDB, the awards
recognized EDB-supported initiatives in technological development,
corporate social responsibility, and local economic
development.
“These awards recognize that our projects are making a tangible
difference in people’s lives. We are not simply financing
infrastructure — we are creating systems that continue to deliver
value long after a project is completed,” EDB Chairman Nikolai
Podguzov said.
A national water resources information system in Kazakhstan
received an honorable mention in the Technological Development
category. Developed with grant support from the EDB’s Digital
Initiatives Fund, the system provides a digital foundation for
water management, including monitoring, data analysis, planning and
decision-making.
In Tajikistan, an EDB project supporting wheat flour
fortification in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme (WFP)
received an honorable mention in the Corporate Social
Responsibility category. The initiative has provided 10 flour mills
with fortification equipment and is expected to help about 70% of
Tajikistan’s population receive essential micronutrients through
daily bread.
The third award went to the EDB-supported International
Financial Platform in Tashkent, which won in the Local Economic
Development category. The project is designed as an integrated
financial and business ecosystem with a dedicated legal and
regulatory framework for investors and financial institutions.
According to expert estimates cited by the EDB, the platform
could attract several billion dollars in additional investment to
Uzbekistan’s economy and strengthen Tashkent’s position as a
regional financial hub.
The three awards reflect the EDB’s focus on projects combining
economic development with technological modernization, social
impact and sustainable infrastructure across its member
countries.
The bank also presented its vision for regional integration at
the ADFIAP forum. Vera Barkatina, head of the EDB Technical
Assistance Fund department, outlined how the bank uses technical
assistance to prepare investment projects and establish
institutional conditions for financing.
The EDB is a multilateral development bank operating across the
Eurasian region. As of the end of June 2026, its cumulative
portfolio included 348 projects worth $22.1 billion. Its portfolio
is concentrated in transport infrastructure, digital systems,
renewable energy, agriculture, industry and mechanical engineering,
with projects guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and
ESG principles.
Under its 2022–2026 Strategy, the EDB is implementing three
major regional initiatives: the Central Asia Water and Energy
Complex, the Eurasian Transport Framework and the Eurasian
Commodity Distribution Network.
