Uzbekistan and Global Environment Facility Discuss New Sustainable Agriculture Projects

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), analyzed the results of its technical cooperation for the period 2023–2026 and discussed the prospects of launching new joint projects, according to the Central Bank's press service.

The meeting took place concurrently with the Samarkand Islamic Finance Forum in 2026. Participants included Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank Sanjar Nosirov, Director of Financial Inclusion Dilbar Abduganiyeva, heads of relevant departments, as well as ADB's Director of Financial Sector Mohd Sani Mohd Ismail.

Participants reviewed the technical assistance provided by the ADB to the Central Bank from 2023 to 2026. The cooperation focused on increasing the accessibility of financial services, consumer protection, promoting financial literacy, and strengthening risk-based supervision of the non-banking sector.

Furthermore, the parties exchanged views on potential new areas of technical interaction. These include the development of the Islamic capital market, the introduction of liquidity management tools, and the improvement of supervision over the non-banking financial sector.

Following the negotiations, representatives of the Central Bank and the ADB expressed interest in further developing cooperation and implementing joint projects in the agreed areas.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan reported that representatives from Uzbekistan and France held discussions on potential joint projects in the fields of energy, water supply, transport, and municipal infrastructure.

The negotiations took place on October 27 between Ilhom Norkulov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, and a French delegation led by Gérard Wolff, representative of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for Sustainable Cities and Transport.

Representatives of several French companies attended the meeting, including SUEZ, EDF, ALSTOM, VEOLIA, IVECO, MND, Dassault Systèmes, and WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS.

The Uzbek side presented data on ongoing reforms aimed at forming a new model of economic growth, as well as information on the country's labor resources and domestic market potential.

French companies expressed interest in implementing projects in Uzbekistan's priority economic sectors. The discussions took into account population growth and increasing needs for infrastructure development.

Participants reviewed proposals for modernizing regional heating systems, improving water supply, and updating public transport. Furthermore, one of the discussion topics was the digitalization of the railway sector and logistics systems.

At the conclusion of the meeting, all participants confirmed their readiness for joint work on key areas and the continuation of mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and France.

The administration of the Fergana region reported that Uzbekistan and Egypt held discussions on expanding scientific interaction in the field of agriculture, experience exchange, and implementing joint agrarian projects.

The Governor of the Fergana region, Khayrullo Bozorov, met with a group of scientists from the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of the Egyptian Institute of Horticulture, led by Ahmed Ghamia.

Areas of Cooperation

Discussions focused on the possibilities of introducing modern agricultural technologies, deepening scientific exchange, and strengthening the partnership between the research institutions of the two countries.

Ghamia presented the main areas of activity of the ARC, which include developing new crop varieties, improving farming methods, processing food products, and increasing the efficiency of water and land resource use.

Special attention was paid to the practical application of scientific research, closer interaction between laboratories and research institutes, as well as the implementation of advanced technologies directly on farms.

Participants also considered prospects for cooperation with the Uzagrostar holding and the joint execution of agricultural initiatives.

Bozorov recalled the long-standing ties of Fergana with Egypt, including those related to the scientific heritage of Ahmad al-Farghani. This 9th-century scholar participated in the construction of the nilometer—a structure used to measure the water level in the Nile, which helped control water resources and plan agricultural activities.

Following the meeting, both sides defined priority areas for further agricultural cooperation.