Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan meets with USAID administrator

Washington, The Gulf Observer: Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov met with US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and USAID Deputy Administrator Isabelle Colman, on Monday.

According to the MFA, the current state and prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and USAID, issues of implementing priority programs and projects were discussed.

“During the conversation, the head of USAID reaffirmed her firm commitment to providing all kinds of assistance in the implementation of the tasks outlined in the development strategy of the new Uzbekistan for 2022-2026. In particular, it was announced that USAID intends to closely coordinate its efforts with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), of which it is a member of the Board of Directors,” the report reads.

The head of USAID welcomed the efforts of the Uzbek government to ensure the openness of public administration, freedom of speech, and the development of civil society. It is emphasized that this contributes to a broad consideration of the interests of society in the decision-making processes on important issues of socio-political and socio-economic life.

In turn, USAID Deputy Head Isabelle Colman assured that the agency will continue to implement financial-technical assistance projects, primarily taking into account the priorities of Uzbekistan.

USAID leadership expressed its readiness to assist in the modernization of the energy sector, the introduction of renewable energy sources, the development of water management, the improvement of the education system, vocational training and advanced training of young people.

Separately, the importance of attracting USAID assistance to the system of vocational education in order to expand employment opportunities for citizens of Uzbekistan and sustainable economic development of the country was noted.