Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Jamshid Kuchkarov, met with a delegation led by Eugene Zhukov, Director of the Central and West Asia Department at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting was also attended by Kanokpan Lao-Araya, ADB’s Country Director for Uzbekistan, and other bank representatives. On the Uzbek side, participants included First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilhom Norkulov, Deputy Ministers Ilhomjon Umrizaqov and Umid Abidjajaev, Ministerial Advisor Jasur Karshibaev, General Director of the Mortgage Refinancing Company Murodjon Farmanov, and other officials.

During the meeting, a contract was signed between the Mortgage Refinancing Company and ADB to further strengthen cooperation.

Discussions focused on current and future areas of collaboration between Uzbekistan and ADB, with particular attention to strategies for small and medium-sized business development. ADB representatives praised Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms and outlined plans to expand their project portfolio in key sectors, including budgetary support, education, energy, transport, water supply, and urban planning.

New initiatives related to environmental transformation, sustainable development, and technical assistance for regional urban master plans were also discussed. Additionally, projects in wastewater management and education, to be implemented through public-private partnerships, were reviewed.

A key discussion point was the introduction of a "super ESCO" system to enhance energy efficiency.

The meeting concluded with agreements to accelerate and expand cooperation, support new projects, and strengthen ties in technical assistance programs.