Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 19 March 2021, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov received Andre Kuusvek, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Central Asia, who is completing his mission at the EBRD.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation, the course of preparation of the projects being developed, as well as priority areas of interaction with the EBRD in order to support the program of economic reforms in Uzbekistan.

The effectiveness and timeliness of the practical support provided by the EBRD to Uzbekistan in the implementation of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, support for entrepreneurship and the implementation of a broad reform program in the context of a global pandemic was noted.

In turn, A. Kuusvek highly appreciated the socio-economic reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan and confirmed the EBRD’s intention to continue financial, investment and consulting support for the processes of economic transformations in the Republic.

The ongoing projects in the field of energy, housing and communal services, ecology and the private sector were substantively considered. The parties exchanged views on the available opportunities to accelerate the implementation of current projects, as well as mechanisms for interaction to overcome the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy of Uzbekistan.

The dialogue also touched upon new promising areas of interaction, among which special attention was paid to cooperation in promoting youth entrepreneurship and creating new jobs for youth through the implementation of relevant EBRD programs in Uzbekistan.

Following the meeting, the parties outlined further steps to strengthen the partnership based on the priority areas of development of Uzbekistan, with a special emphasis on the development of entrepreneurship, modernization of infrastructure and the social sphere. At the end of the meeting, the Uzbek side expressed gratitude for the contribution made by A. Kuusvek to strengthening cooperation between the EBRD and Uzbekistan.