Shavkat Mirziyoyev receives EBRD President

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation led by Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, today, June 18, as part of the next meeting of the Foreign Investors Council. The press service of the Uzbek leader reported this.

According to the report, the parties considered issues related to further developing practical cooperation and strengthening large-scale partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as part of the implementation of the reform program in New Uzbekistan.

It was noted with great satisfaction that the strategic partnership with this leading multilateral financial institution is currently at its highest level.

Today, Uzbekistan is the EBRD’s largest partner in the region. The total portfolio of projects in priority areas exceeds $7 billion. A large share of the investments is directed toward supporting the private sector.

The signing of new agreements in the areas of developing eco-friendly transport, digitalizing railway infrastructure, supporting entrepreneurship, the mortgage market and the country’s startup ecosystem was noted with satisfaction.

This year, priority areas include expanding lending to small and medium-sized businesses, including export financing, implementing programs to train women and young people in business, developing the agriculture and food sectors, participating in the transformation of the banking and financial sector, and other areas.

Plans to promote public-private partnership projects in education, healthcare and transport infrastructure were supported.

Interest was expressed in involving EBRD experts in order to improve project preparation mechanisms and increase the efficiency of their implementation.

The agenda of the upcoming fourth meeting of the Foreign Investors Council was also reviewed.

Earlier, in January this year, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also held a meeting with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso. That meeting discussed practical aspects of further deepening the strategic partnership and expanding cooperation with this leading financial institution.