On September 30, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Antonella Bassani, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia.
Current issues of further expanding strategic cooperation with the World Bank Group and support by this leading international financial institution for the ongoing reform program in New Uzbekistan were discussed.
At the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Antonella Bassani conveyed to the Head of our State sincere greetings and best wishes of the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga.
During the conversation, the current high level and fruitful nature of bilateral cooperation were warmly commended.
In recent years, our country has become one of the largest partners of the bank – the project portfolio has increased by several times and currently exceeds $12 billion.
The World Bank provides support in the implementation of important reforms aimed at ensuring sustainability of economic and social sectors. Since July of this year, the regional representative office of the bank began operations in Tashkent.
Such areas as combating poverty, transforming state enterprises and banks, decarbonization, supporting WTO accession, and others were identified as priorities for further expansion of the partnership.
Particular attention was paid to urbanization programs and integrated regional development, modernization of energy and irrigation infrastructure, and support for the private sector.
An exchange of views on promoting regional projects also took place.