ADB, Uzbekistan adopt partnership strategy for 2012-2016

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Uzbek government have agreed on a new five-year Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2012-2016, a press release of the bank said on Tuesday.

The new partnership strategy seeks to support inclusive economic growth through fostering a diversified economy, and expanding regional cooperation, the press release said.

In particular, new strategy will be aimed to develop such areas as transport, energy, utilities, water supply and access to financial resources. CPS priorities are also public administration, regional cooperation and integration, private sector development, knowledge management, gender equity and climate change.

Strategic assistance to be provided under the CPS will catalyze industrial development, accelerate economic diversification, promote private sector development, ensure climate-resilient investment, and create new jobs for women and men.

The report does not provide a list of projects to be implemented within the framework of the CPS, and the expected funding from ADB.

As previously reported, since Uzbekistan's accession to the ADB in 1995, the Bank approved lending of about 40 joint projects in education and health care, modernization of generating capacity and energy infrastructure, rail and road infrastructure, public utilities, agriculture, financial sector with aggregate project cost of $9 billion with a share of ADB financing at about $4billion.