Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- USAID has announced its intention to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan, increase funding and implement new projects.

On 28 May, First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Farhod Arziev and Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Gloria Steele discussed issues of interaction in the field of economics, agriculture, healthcare and education.

The talks were held in a video conference format with the participation of Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Shukhrat Vafaev and First Deputy Minister of Health, Director of the Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare Bakhodir Yusupaliev.

Gloria Steele emphasized that in the healthcare system of Uzbekistan alone, USAID implemented projects worth more than US$120 million. In 2020, as part of the fight against the proliferation of COVID-19, USAID allocated US$3.8 million to Uzbekistan, including to build the capacity of laboratory facilities and improve the skills of medical personnel.

It was noted that the project “Development of the value chain in agriculture” supported farmers in introducing modern methods of growing, processing, storing and exporting fruits and vegetables. In continuation of successful cooperation in this direction, USAID plans to develop the program "Development of Agribusiness in Uzbekistan."

During the conversation, the parties also discussed prospects for deepening cooperation in areas such as trade development, modernization of the energy sector, strengthening secondary and higher education, support for healthcare, and the introduction of water-saving technologies.