President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during his working visit to New York, held talks with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Citigroup Chairman John Dugan. The meetings focused on priority issues related to expanding strategic partnership.
Photo: Presidential Press Service
At the meeting with Ajay Banga, the parties noted with satisfaction that in recent years cooperation with the World Bank – particularly in supporting and promoting priority programs and projects within the framework of socio-economic reforms – has reached a high level.
Uzbekistan is among the Bank’s largest partners in Europe and Central Asia, with a joint project portfolio exceeding $14 billion. The World Bank has opened its regional office in Tashkent, and the outcomes of the third international forum “Road to Prosperity,” recently held in Namangan, were highly praised.
The head of state emphasized the importance of focusing the current Partnership Program on ensuring sustainable growth and accelerating the quality and efficiency of project implementation. Key priorities were identified as poverty reduction, job creation for women and youth, comprehensive regional development through the new “Model Neighborhood” approach, rural infrastructure, expanding support for private sector projects, privatization of state assets, as well as expert assistance in decarbonization and implementing financial sector transformation strategies.
The importance of the Bank’s participation in advancing strategic infrastructure projects in Central Asia was also underlined.
President Mirziyoyev also received John Dugan, Chairman of Citigroup – the largest U.S. financial corporation specializing in banking, investment, and financial services. Citigroup’s market capitalization exceeds $100 billion, and it manages assets worth over $2.3 trillion.
The sides noted with satisfaction the rapid progress in cooperation with the corporation. With Citigroup’s support, Uzbek banks and state-owned enterprises successfully placed bonds on international capital markets, and the company opened an office in Tashkent.
Special attention was given to expanding cooperation in preparing and conducting IPO transactions of large state-owned enterprises, issuing Eurobonds, providing advisory support to improve the country’s credit rating, as well as developing financial solutions and introducing new trade finance instruments.
The parties agreed to adopt a roadmap for expanding mutually beneficial partnership with Citigroup.
Source: kun.uz
