On June 30 this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov met with Executive Director of US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Adam S. Boehler, where they discussed prospects for the development of cooperation to strengthen bilateral relations of Uzbekistan and the USA.

A.Boehler noted the high interest in the Corporation’s participation in social and economic reforms in the Republic through co-financing of priority projects and initiatives aimed at development of the private sector and infrastructure.

To early transit to practical cooperation, American partners were invited to consider a package of 27 specific investment projects in agriculture, light industry, pharmaceuticals, and the production of construction materials.

The American side expressed its willingness to consider its participation in the public-private partnership projects in solar and wind energy, as well as the transport sector.

Besides, the parties negotiated on the potential to involve DFC in financing of private investors involved in the privatization of large state-owned enterprises and commercial banks in Uzbekistan.

They separately discussed possible establishment of a Joint Investment Fund involving the interest of DFC and the Government of Uzbekistan with a view to attract also the governments of other countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan. The Fund will focus on regional priority projects in energy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, as well as initiatives aimed at support of women entrepreneurship and employment of the population.

The parties discussed possible attraction of other interested parties to establish the above Fund.

They also touched upon the development of economic cooperation in the region, i.e. the importance to further cooperate and organize effective logistics routes and expand transnational railway infrastructure to be connected to major international transfer centers.

The negotiations resulted in agreement to create a Joint Working Group in order to work out high-quality agreements reached and develop new areas for partnership.