The ADB President congratulated the Leader of Uzbekistan on the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership and on Uzbekistan’s assumption of the chairmanship of the Bank’s Board of Governors for 2025-2026.

The discussions focused on enhancing comprehensive cooperation in implementing the country’s socio-economic reform program.

The exceptionally high level of interaction achieved was noted with satisfaction. Uzbekistan remains the Bank’s largest partner in the region – the joint project portfolio has exceeded $15 billion. In addition, more than $3 billion in new projects is being prepared in green energy, transport, digital transformation, education, and other areas. Mechanisms for non-sovereign financing are being actively introduced.

Particular attention was given to preparations for the Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors to be held in May 2026 in the city of Samarkand.

The President of Uzbekistan advocated signing an Enhanced Strategic Partnership Program with the ADB during the upcoming event, placing special emphasis on infrastructure development, training technical and engineering personnel, equipping women and youth with new professional skills, reducing poverty, and developing the mortgage market and the private sector.

The importance of the Bank’s active participation in supporting major national and regional initiatives, as well as in promoting transport, energy, and trade projects in Central Asia, was underscored.

ADB President Masato Kanda highly praised the results of the country’s large-scale reforms and expressed readiness to fully support the implementation of the program of irreversible reforms in New Uzbekistan.