On 19 January, the session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent, which discussed social-economic development of Uzbekistan in 2011 and important priorities of economic programmes for 2012.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that it is important to develop communication and transportation system to ensure economic growth. He said that heads of regional administrations should pay attention to development of transportation and communication sector.

Islam Karimov said that it is important to speed up implementation of projects on construction and reconstruction of roads, which are part of Uzbek National Highway.

He said that it is planned to construct and reconstruct 517 km of automobile roads, two large road junctions, 544 meters of bridges and overpasses and the Republican Road Fund will allocate US$360 million, which grew by 12.5% year-on-year.

Islam Karimov said that the Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Arab Coordination Group are participating in modernization of roads in Uzbekistan. He said that they issued loans for US$1.4 billion to construction and reconstruction of 742 automobile roads and purchase of road construction equipment. He said that it is planned to use US$109 million in 2012 and launch 165 km of concrete pavement roads, including reconstruction of road through Qamchiq passing.

Uzbek President said that Uzavtoyol, Republican Road Fund, local administration should ensure full implementation of set goals on construction and reconstruction roads.

He also said that the special attention should be paid to development of railway communication and speed up implementation of the project on electrification of Maroqan-Karshi and Karshi-Termez railroads, ensure security of high speed passenger trains movement on Tashkent-Samarkand-Tashkent road.

President Islam Karimov said that the Government should take under control on implementation of measures on development of Navoi international intermodal logistic center and Angren Logistic Center.

He underlined that it is planned to direct US$176 million to development and modernization of telecommunication networks in 2012.