Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 19 July, the First Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education - Director of the Preschool Education Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan Agrippina Shin met with the mission of the OPEC Fund, the regional manager for operations in the public sector, responsible for the portfolio of the OPEC Fund in the Republic of Uzbekistan Olga Mikhailova.

The purpose of the mission of the OPEC Fund, which runs from 16 to 23 July 2023, is to review the current activities of the OPEC Fund in Uzbekistan, as well as discuss further cooperation in the public sector.

Within the framework of the Islamic Development Bank project “To improve the quality and efficiency of educational services in the Republic of Uzbekistan” with a total cost of US$66.9 million, where the participation of the OPEC Fund is implied in the amount of US$20 million. The aim of the project is - Expansion of the network of non-state preschool educational institutions by building 200 new institutions on the basis of public-private partnership. This will increase coverage for preschool children by 30 thousand new places, as well as create 2.5 thousand new jobs.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the completed stages of the implementation of the joint project of the Islamic Development Bank, which provides for the participation of the OPEC Fund. Issues related to implementation plans and details of the project’s operating model were also discussed. Ms. Olga Mikhailova noted the commitment of the country’s leadership towards creating equal conditions and accessibility of education for preschool children.

In turn, Agrippina Shin expressed her gratitude for the organization of the Foundation’s mission on the way to the effective implementation of joint projects. As a result of the meeting, the parties reached an understanding on all the necessary activities that will be implemented within the framework of this project.