Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The World Bank (WB) Board of Directors approved a $100 million loan to Uzbekistan as part of the Integrated Development of Medium Cities project, Uzbek media reported.

The funds will be allocated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which is part of the WB group.

Hideki Mori, head of the WB in Uzbekistan, said that for the first time, the WB will finance a project on urban development in Uzbekistan. He declared that project will help improve living conditions in the middle cities of the Bukhara, Tashkent and Namangan regions, and will support the efforts of the government of the country aimed at social and economic development of the regions.

In Uzbekistan, medium-sized cities with a population of 50,000-100,000 people play the role of a base for economic development. More than 40 percent of the country's urban population, or about 1.5 million people, live in cities with a population of less than 100,000.

The project, supported by the WB, will contribute to the development of urban infrastructure, public places and municipal services in the middle cities of Uzbekistan, in particular, in Kagan (Bukhara region), Chartak (Namangan region) and Yangiyule (Tashkent region). The total population of these settlements is 165,000 people.

The project will strengthen the institutional capacity of central and local governments in the field of urban management, urban infrastructure, the provision of municipal services to the population, the development of urban transport systems, sustainable tourism and partnerships with the private sector.

The experience gained during the implementation of the project in the above pilot cities will be used in the development of the National Program for the Development of Medium Cities of Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan, the WB today funds the implementation of 19 projects totaling $ 3.4 billion to support the economic and social development of the country. These projects include support for macroeconomic reforms, agriculture, the water and sanitation sectors, health, education, energy, transport, and regional development. They contribute to the country’s economic growth and higher living standards for the people of Uzbekistan.

Founded in 1944, the WB has 189 member countries, staff from more 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations. WB has more than 10,000 employees in more than 120 offices worldwide.

Today the Bank Group’s work touches nearly every sector that is important to fighting poverty, supporting economic growth, and ensuring sustainable gains in the quality of people’s lives in developing countries.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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