BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 2. Uzbekistan and
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have discussed
opportunities to attract grant funding and technical assistance for
tourism development projects in the country at a meeting in
Tashkent on Monday.
According to the Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, these issues
were discussed during a meeting between Committee representatives
and Odilkhon Khasanov, a project manager at JICA’s office in
Uzbekistan.
The talks focused on supporting promising tourism initiatives,
securing grant funding and exploring opportunities to receive
non-reimbursable financial assistance from JICA and other
international partners.
In addition, the parties reviewed JICA’s activities in
Uzbekistan, its cooperation with government ministries and
agencies, and the current status and prospects of its grant
programs and assistance mechanisms. Previous tourism-related
initiatives implemented by the agency, project grants and other
support programs were also discussed.
Particular attention was paid to developing tourism as an
important sector of Uzbekistan’s economy, diversifying tourism
destinations and products, creating new jobs and implementing
projects capable of competing in international markets.
The sides emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation
with international financial institutions and donor organizations
to support the sector’s development.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to maintain regular
dialogue and jointly identify and develop promising tourism
projects that could receive JICA grants and non-reimbursable
financial assistance.
