Private sector projects account for more than half of EBRD's overall investments in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT. May 18 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso discussed the current high level and further prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EBRD, official Uzbek media said on Thursday.

"The bank has invested 3.3 billion euros in our country since 2017, with 55% of this [investment] portfolio going to private sector projects. Uzbekistan is a leading partner for the EBRD in the region and is among the top five countries by volume of transactions," media outlets said.

It was stressed at the meeting that major deals have been implemented in the investment and banking sector with the EBRD's support and active participation. Experts of the leading financial institution support reforms in the field of green economy, the modernization of public utilities and transport infrastructure, the environment, and other priority areas.

"The focus is on the preparation and the agenda of a new long-term partnership strategy," they said.

Among cooperation priorities, the parties listed programs and projects to promote small and medium-sized businesses, support female entrepreneurs, privatization and steps to increase the private sector's share in the economy and to introduce public-private partnership mechanisms and green and innovative technologies.

The parties also confirmed the presence of broad opportunities for supporting advanced regional integration projects in Central Asia.

"Renaud-Basso expressed deep gratitude for the support and assistance for the organization and the successful conduct of the annual Board of Governors meeting in Samarkand," the media outlets said.

More than 2,500 delegates from over 70 countries are attending the annual EBRD Board of Governors meeting under way in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.