Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 20 January 2025, a signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan for an Exchange of Notes regarding the "Improvement of Healthcare and Medical Services" project, valued at 22.953 billion yen.

The document was signed by Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan, Takashi Hatori.

The project is being implemented under a yen loan with special conditions as part of the STEP program (Special Terms for Economic Partnership).

Due to changes in lifestyle amid Uzbekistan’s economic growth, the number of deaths from non-communicable diseases, such as strokes, has been rising. However, the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in Tashkent, lacks specialized hospitals capable of effectively handling the growing number of patients with neurological conditions.

Additionally, tertiary-level medical facilities in regions such as Samarkand and Bukhara are often equipped with outdated machinery or lack the necessary equipment altogether, making it difficult to provide timely and qualified medical assistance.

To address these issues, the project includes the construction and equipping of a Neurology and Stroke Center in Tashkent, as well as the supply of modern medical equipment to regional hospitals in Samarkand and Bukhara.

The implementation of this project will enhance the quality of medical services, particularly in the treatment of non-communicable diseases.

The Neurology and Stroke Center will also become an important hub for medical training, contributing to the strengthening of the healthcare system and improving the overall health of Uzbekistan’s population.

The terms of the yen loan include a fixed interest rate of 0.50% (0.40% for consulting services) and a repayment period of 40 years, with a 10-year grace period.

Yen loans represent a form of cooperation in which financial resources are provided on favorable terms with low interest rates and long repayment periods. This encourages the efficient use of resources and the independent development of the economies of the recipient countries.

The STEP program, established in 2002, is focused on promoting Japanese technology and know-how, making Japan’s assistance both visible and effective.