Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 8 June, a conference was held in Tashkent, organized by the Joint Project Implementation Unit under the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and dedicated to the work done, as well as the intermediate results of the Rural Infrastructure Development project.

The event was attended by representatives of international financial institutions, relevant ministries and departments, as well as local authorities and officials of non-governmental organizations, bloggers and the media.

The project, worth US$183.6 million, is being implemented in 5 regions (Ferghana, Andijan, Namangan, Jizzakh and Syrdarya), covering 1.3 million people from 306 mahallas, and will provide direct participation of the population in the selection of subprojects in these regions.

The main goal of the Rural Infrastructure Development project is to improve the standard of living of the population through the construction of drinking water supply, electricity supply, road transport infrastructure, social facilities, integrated development of territories and a radical renewal of their architectural appearance in rural and micro-district settlements.

The project is also aimed at supporting the family, improving the socio-emotional environment among the population, supporting the institution of the community and bringing the system of working with families and women to a new level through training on women’s empowerment, leadership and active participation in community life with the involvement of international consultants and local experts.

Within the framework of the Rural Infrastructure Development Project, the following work will be done:

• repair and equipping of 622 social institutions (301 secondary schools, 240 pre-school institutions and 81 medical institutions);

• Repair and construction of 1,642 km of clean drinking water networks. In addition, repair and construction of 306 new water supply facilities;

• repair of 1,174 km of power supply networks, replacement of 1,116 transformers and 33,231 towers;

• Repair of 100 km of internal roads, etc.

At the end of the event, all participants and media representatives had the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers of the conference. The event drew the attention of a wide audience to the progress of the project and became an effective platform for consolidating the results of the project to date and creating a reserve for the regional expansion of the project through the implementation of new subprojects.