OREANDA-NEWS. On January 07, 2009 Ipoteka Bank Joint-Stock Commercial Bank extended almost 56 billion soums (US40 million) in mortgage loans to more than 3,000 families in 2008, 12.uz reported.

Moreover, 517 families received consumer loans for 834.9 million soums (US599,000) and about 200 families were given micro-loans for the total of 1.2 billion soums (US861,000). About 78.8% of the volume of loans extended to clients during the year was mortgage lending, as announced by the Deputy Head of the Department of Mortgage and Consumer Loans of Ipoteka Bank Adham Tajihojaev.

He said that for the purpose of providing the population social protection and housing, construction projects were being run in all regions of the country. In particular, corporate loans for the total amount of some 41.2 billion soums (US29.5 million) were appropriated for timely construction of 4-5 story apartment buildings for young families. The State Programme on "The Year of Youth" envisages the construction of about 50 multi-story buildings to provide housing to more than 1,500 families.

"To date, the construction of 24 apartment buildings has been completed in Tashkent, and of 23 buildings – in the regional centres. In October 2008 one building with 48 flats was commissioned in Navoi city, and two buildings with 32 flats each were commissioned in Namangan city. In the first quarters of this year keys to new flats will be handed to young families, owners of 365 new flats in 11 multi-story apartment buildings being built in Tashkent," one of the managers of the Uzbek bank said.