Uzbekistan Urbanization Agency envisions sustainable urban development
13/09/2019 17:05
Uzbekistan Urbanization Agency envisions sustainable urban development
13/09/2019 17:05
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Uzbekistan Urbanization Agency brought together representatives from various regions of the country and government agencies to learn how sustainable urbanization can improve livability and economic opportunities. The workshop was held in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB).
WB, ADB and UN experts presented international best practices of urban management, resilience, competitiveness, economic growth, and tourism-urban linkages, amongst others. Local officials and experts highlighted current urbanization challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban development and job creation in Uzbekistan.
“Making cities environmentally sustainable, livable, and inclusive is one of the great challenges of our time,” said Ms. Cindy Malvicini, ADB’s Country Director for Uzbekistan Resident Mission. “Despite its challenges, Uzbekistan can benefit from urbanization opportunities given its geographic location, young human resources, transport links, and tourism assets”.
“Uzbekistan is rapidly urbanizing”, said Mr. Hideki Mori, World Bank Country Manager for Uzbekistan. “It’s important to make sure that this process is leading to improved livability and greater economic opportunities by strengthening the capacity of central and local authorities to plan, manage and regulate”.
Since joining ADB in 1995, Uzbekistan has committed 73 loans totaling $7.9 billion, including two private sector loans totaling $225 million. ADB also provided $6 million in equity investment, $218 million in guarantees, and $97.7 million in technical assistance grants. In 8 months of 2019, ADB committed loans totaling $472.3 million to develop horticulture value chain infrastructure, improve efficiency of railway transport and access to drinking water supply.
Uzbekistan and World Bank have been collaborating since 1992. The World Bank scaled up its support to the Government since the start of the country’s social and economic transformation in 2017. Today, the Bank’s program in the country is the second largest in the Europe and Central Asia region, with 22 projects totaling $4.08 billion. These projects are supporting economic and institutional reforms, sustainable urban development, agriculture, health, education, water supply and sanitation, energy, transport, and social protection.
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