Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have discussed the bilateral cooperation program for 2014-2016.

The discussions were held on March 4 during ADB's Vice-President Wencai Zhang's working visit to Tashkent, who met Uzbek first deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Rustam Azimov.

The bilateral cooperation program for 2014-2016 envisages the implementation of priority projects and programs in such areas as oil and gas, power engineering, transportation infrastructure, water supply, housing construction, small business, health, education and municipal sectors.

The sides also discussed issues of ADB financial assistance in infrastructure development projects in transport and communications, implementation of regional projects in energy, water resources and water supply.

Zhang also met with Uzbek Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade and became familiar with a number of projects carried out with the ADB participation.

Uzbekistan joined the ADB in August 1995. Currently, the portfolio of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB includes 40 projects worth $14.5 billion.

Uzbekistan and the ADB are jointly implementing the strategically important investment projects and programs such as the construction of two steam gas units with a total capacity of 900 MW at the Talimarjan thermal power plant, a large scale program of road construction and reconstruction, building the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex at Surgil deposit and a housing program in rural areas.