Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 16 June, the Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, held a meeting in Tashkent with Bhargav Dasgupta, Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting marked a review of the 30-year strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the ADB and explored promising avenues for its deepening. At the heart of the discussions were joint initiatives in key areas such as the transition to a green economy, private sector support, human capital development, and modernization of the national financial system.

Special focus was given to initiatives planned for 2025. These include expanding non-sovereign financing, boosting public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms, establishing environmentally friendly industrial zones, developing innovation-driven industries, and enhancing support for national exports.

Another key item on the agenda was the implementation of the joint SME support program. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further coordination in this area, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and inclusive growth of the entrepreneurial sector.

The meeting concluded with a mutual reaffirmation of readiness to expand cooperation based on market principles and jointly launch new initiatives aligned with Uzbekistan’s sustainable socio-economic development goals.