Areas of cooperation with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga were discussed

The meeting was attended by the World Bank's Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, Antonella Bassani; Vice President for Development Finance, Akihiko Nishio; Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde; as well as Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilkhomjon Umrzakov and other officials.

During the dialogue, the parties discussed the development of mutually beneficial cooperation, the large-scale socio-economic reforms being implemented in our country, and measures aimed at improving the well-being of the population.

In particular, the discussions focused on the following priority areas:

• economic growth rates and results achieved in modernizing economic sectors, developing infrastructure, reducing poverty, and ensuring sustainable economic growth;
• expanding cooperation within the framework of the International Development Association (IDA), including the effective use of concessional financing mechanisms;
• water resource management, climate change adaptation, and ensuring environmental sustainability, particularly strengthening cooperation within the framework of the "Water Forward" initiative;
• Fostering the development of SMEs and strengthening comprehensive support for the private sector.

Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to further deepen their mutually beneficial partnership and to advance new joint projects on priority areas and future plans. In turn, representatives of the World Bank expressed their readiness to fully support the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan.