Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 22 January, a meeting took place between a delegation led by Francis Malige, Managing Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Financial Institutions, and Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Also present at the meeting were Huseyin Ozhan, Managing Director of EBRD for Central Asia and Mongolia, Andy Aranitasi, Head of the EBRD Representative Office in Uzbekistan, as well as Deputy Ministers of Economy and Finance Ilkhomjon Umrzakov and Otabek Fozilkarimov, along with other responsible officials.

The parties paid special attention to discussing the joint projects implemented over the past period, their outcomes, future directions of cooperation, and priority projects aimed at ensuring economic stability and social welfare in Uzbekistan.

In particular, the dialogue focused on accelerating the privatization processes of state-owned banks, supporting the private sector, the development and transformation of state-owned enterprises, and projects being implemented under public-private partnership programs.

Special attention was given to the development of projects related to the establishment of schools and student dormitories in the education sector.

Additionally, during the talks, the parties exchanged views on promoting "green" growth, improving energy efficiency, and the widespread adoption of "green" technologies. They also discussed the development and support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as improving the accessibility of financial services for women and young entrepreneurs.

The meeting also covered the renewal of heating infrastructure and the development of specific projects aimed at providing sustainable services to the population through "green" and innovative technologies.

Particular attention was devoted to issues related to the efficient use of water resources, the implementation of irrigation projects, and the widespread application of water-saving technologies in agriculture.