OREANDA-NEWS. June 23, 2010. Today investors, companies and corporations of the leading countries of the world are interested in development of cooperation with Uzbekistan, and banks in this case are not an exception.

Agrobank has already been carrying out long time active international partnership as well. One of the factors promoting successful activity of the bank in this direction is its stable functioning focused on balanced long-term development is.

Bahodir Gafurov, Deputy Chief of Department for International Bank Activity of Agrobank, spoke in an interview with our correspondent about the bank's international cooperation.

- With which international organizations and for what purpose Agrobank cooperates?
- The international cooperation is one of the major directions of activity of Agrobank. Development of partner relations with the leading foreign financial organizations allows the bank to guarantee to the clients qualitative bank service on the world standards.

At present Agrobank is member of three international interbank organizations. Among them are Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), International Confederation of Agricultural Credit and Banking Association of Central and Eastern Europe.

It should be noted that already for over 10 years Agrobank closely cooperates with these organizations and is their full member, as well as actively participates in their activity. In particular, as a result of fruitful work of Agrobank with APRACA, the General Assembly and session of the Central Committee of the given organisation will take place in June of current year in Tashkent.

- How the bank represents itself on the international arena?
- First of all, the bank demonstrates itself by means of the international media. We are published in the international bank almanacs, we participate in competitions organized by these editions. I would like to note that Agrobank five times was named the best bank of Uzbekistan according The Banker, most known in bank community of magazine.

Besides, we try to correspond to the international requirements. Agrobank is one of the most reliable and stable in the financial relation so far.

It is necessary to underline that Agrobank is the first bank of Uzbekistan to which the credit rating of international rating agency Fitch has been assigned, within four years this rating annually proves to be true, and last year it even was raised. Besides, recently Moody's rating agency assigned rating to Agrobank with the forecast stable. All these, undoubtedly, allows to speak about high level of trust to the bank.

- How the correspondent network of Agrobank is developed?
- The correspondent network of Agrobank was created and functions proceeding from requirements of clients. At present Agrobank has 22 correspondent accounts in 13 countries of the world. These are, basically, leading banks of the USA, Western Europe, Korea, Russia. Moreover, the bank has credit lines on acknowledgement of operations of trade financing from foreign banks.

Besides, the bank carries out active cooperation with such large financial institutions as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in such directions as small business support, development and restructuring of agriculture, etc.

I will remind that during the 43rd session of the Asian Development Bank in Tashkent Agrobank, among three other domestic commercial banks, was included in the ADB program of trade financing. Besides, credit agreement with ADB was signed, which is directed on small business and microfinancing development. Realization of this project will start in July 2010.

- What services are rendered to individuals within the international cooperation?
- At present Agrobank carries out remittances on four international systems. Besides, today the bank offers its clients service in three types of international plastic cards Visa, and plans to emit chip cards. I think, this direction is very perspective.

Thus, the adjusted partner relations with leading banks of the world allow Agrobank to raise the competitiveness in the domestic market of bank services, and open new opportunities in cooperation with the advanced international financial institutions.