Uzbekistan and the French Development Agency (AFD) have agreed on key areas of cooperation for the period from 2027 to 2030. These agreements were reached during the seventh annual consultations between the government of Uzbekistan and AFD, which took place in Tashkent on September 25.
The delegation from Uzbekistan was headed by Shokhruh Gulomov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, while the French side was represented by Virginie Bleitrah, Deputy Director of the AFD Department for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Representatives of the Agency for Strategic Reforms, diplomatic missions of both countries, and the AFD office in Uzbekistan also participated in the consultations.
The parties emphasized the need to give concrete substance to the agreements reached after the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to France in March 2025, as well as the transition of bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership.
Over the past 11 years, AFD has approved 17 projects in Uzbekistan totaling approximately 1.6 billion euros. Currently, the agency's portfolio includes 13 projects valued at 1.29 billion euros, covering energy, water supply and sanitation, livestock, digitalization, and the financial sector. Of the total amount covered by signed agreements, about 1 billion euros has already been disbursed, which accounts for 78%.
Within the AFD Group, cooperation is also developing with Proparco to support the private sector and with Expertise France in the field of technical expertise. Over 55 million euros in grants have been attracted with the participation of the European Union and the French government.
At the current stage, the parties intend to accelerate the implementation of existing projects, develop new initiatives, and move from concepts to financing. Nine projects with a total value of 604.2 million euros are currently in the preparation stage.
Cooperation Priorities for 2027–2030
For the period 2027–2030, priorities were defined in areas such as the transition to energy and decarbonization, water supply, agriculture, sustainable urban development, support for the private sector, and improvement of public financial management.
The preliminary portfolio for the new phase includes 11 projects with an estimated total value of 1.125 billion euros. It covers initiatives for modernizing transport and energy infrastructure, urban development, improving irrigation and agriculture, promoting the green economy, and expanding non-sovereign financing.
Major areas include the restoration of the Tashkent-Samarkand railway line and the development of public transport in the capital. Furthermore, the parties plan to accelerate the preparation of projects for modernizing drinking water supply systems in Kashkadarya region, reconstructing the Suylen Canal in Karakalpakstan, developing the Aral Sea region, and updating district heating networks.
The agreements reached during the consultations were formalized in the consultation protocol and submitted for joint monitoring. The next annual consultations are scheduled to take place in France.
