Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Alisher Shukurov held a meeting with Tarek Abdelmonem, the new representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
The sides discussed the current state of cooperation between Uzbekistan and IFAD, ongoing joint initiatives and promising areas for further development of bilateral cooperation in agriculture.
Particular attention was paid to bringing the US$44 million ASPIR project, titled “Effective Solutions for Agribusiness: Higher Income, Investment and Resilience,” into its practical implementation stage as soon as possible.
The project is aimed at developing agribusiness in Uzbekistan, increasing farmers’ incomes and ensuring sustainable economic growth in rural areas. Its implementation is planned for 2027–2032.
The project is initially planned to be implemented in the Tashkent, Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions.
One of the project’s main areas is supporting small farms and dehkan farms engaged in fruit and vegetable production, increasing their incomes and expanding their access to markets and financial services.
The meeting also addressed the implementation of agreements reached on sending young agricultural specialists from Uzbekistan for internships at IFAD’s regional offices. The initiative is expected to help young professionals gain international experience and develop their professional knowledge and skills.
At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue, accelerate work to bring the ASPIR project into its practical implementation stage and continue cooperation in organizing the participation of young specialists in IFAD internship programs.
