UK to provide 50 mln pounds to fund economic development projects in C. Asia over 3 years

ASTANA. April 24 (Interfax) - The United Kingdom will provide 50 million pounds to finance economic projects in Central Asian countries over the next three years, the UK embassy to Kazakhstan said in a statement covering Foreign Secretary David Cameron's visit to the country.

"During his visit, David Cameron announced 50 million pound new development funding for the Central Asia region over the next three years to invest in the region's path to net zero, development of innovative [small- and medium-size enterprises] SMEs and economic reform. This includes a 19.5 million pound regional climate program and 6.5 million pound for regional education programs," the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

"UK funding will not only boost regional growth and economic resilience but build trade and cooperation between our countries," it said.

Cameron arrived in Kazakhstan for a two-day visit on April 24 as part of his tour of Central Asia and Mongolia. The embassy said Cameron was visiting Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia to promote the UK's interaction with that key region.