OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2010. Uzbekistan became the member of the Asian Development Bank in August 1995. The ADB is one of the reliable and active partners of Uzbekistan in the process of implementation of economic reforms. The bank is continuously implementing its strategy and program of cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Since 1995, the ADB has provided loans worth over USD 1.2 billion to Uzbekistan. These funds were used for implementation of 29 strategic projects in the fields of transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture and communal services, small business, as well as education.

Besides, the ADB provided grants worth over USD 32 million to the country as technical assistance. The bank occupies the first place among the international financial institutions in financing projects in Uzbekistan.

At present, Uzbekistan and the ADB are planning implementation of 19 priority projects in the framework of the new three-year financial cooperation program. These projects aim at improvement of the population with drinking water, improvement of lands, equipment of schools, introduction of IT in education, modernization of transport infrastructure, and supporting small business. The bank is expected to allocate a USD 693 million credit for this purpose.

The cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB is also developing in the framework of multilateral relations. The bank coordinates the activities of other international financial organizations in the field of development of regional cooperation in Central Asia in priority directions like energy, trade and transport infrastructure.

On 1-4 May, the ADB will hold its 43rd Annual meeting in Tashkent, which will be the first such forum in Central Asia.