President Mirziyoyev, World Bank Discuss Expanding Strategic Partnership and Reform Agenda

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a delegation from the World Bank Group led by Antonella Bassani on June 29 to discuss strengthening strategic cooperation in support of Uzbekistan’s ongoing structural reforms under the New Uzbekistan development agenda.

Bassani, who is visiting Uzbekistan to participate in the Meeting of the World Bank Swiss Group of constituent countries, conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes to President Mirziyoyev from Ajay Banga.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation and discussed expanding the strategic partnership in key areas of socioeconomic development. They expressed satisfaction with the high level of engagement and the constructive collaboration established between Uzbekistan and the World Bank Group in recent years.

The discussions noted that the high-level agreements reached during President Mirziyoyev’s meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga in New York last September are being implemented steadily.

The two sides highlighted the significant growth in cooperation, with the portfolio of joint projects now exceeding US$15 billion. They also welcomed the successful operation of the World Bank’s regional office in Tashkent and the effective introduction of new financing instruments to support Uzbekistan’s reform agenda.

President Mirziyoyev and the World Bank delegation stressed the importance of thorough preparations for upcoming visits by the Bank’s senior leadership and the successful organization of joint events scheduled later this year.

The meeting also endorsed plans to develop a new long-term Country Partnership Framework, which will focus on Uzbekistan’s priority socioeconomic development objectives.

Discussions centered on expanding the World Bank Group’s financial instruments to support small and medium-sized enterprises, advancing poverty reduction initiatives, assisting with the privatization of state-owned enterprises, and promoting the integration of artificial intelligence across key sectors of the economy.

Both sides further identified cooperation in financing water sector projects, strengthening human capital, and improving Uzbekistan’s standing in international rankings as priority areas for continued collaboration.

The meeting reaffirmed the mutual commitment of Uzbekistan and the World Bank Group to deepening their strategic partnership in support of sustainable economic growth, institutional modernization, and inclusive development.