Consolidation of international cooperation to combat pandemic under discussion

On April 17, 2020, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on issues of strengthening cooperation with international financial institutions in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, Uzbekistan intends to draw in $ 2.7 billion assigned by international and foreign financial institutions. Most of these funds come from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Ongoing projects have to be optimized due to the current situation, and moneys are allocated primarily to the medical sector. International organizations express their willingness to contribute to efforts in our country.

The President noted the need to accelerate the process of mastering the $ 277 million that international financial institutions intend to allocate to Uzbekistan’s health sector to combat the pandemic.

Instructions were given to outfit the hospital under construction in the Zangiata district and the quarantine zone in the Yukorichirchik district of Tashkent region with modern medical equipment under the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

The Ministry of Health has been tasked with purchasing 2.3 thousand mechanical ventilation devices and other equipment for $ 30 million from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

Instructions were given on attracting additional funds from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the World Bank, and their assignment to the healthcare system and the social sphere as a whole.

In the context of the pandemic, it is planned to raise $ 700 million to support entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized businesses.

The head of state stressed the need to channel these resources primarily for the development of horticulture, food processing and export support.

On March 19 this year, the Anti-Crisis Fund was established by a presidential decree. Additional 3.6 trillion soums from it are expected to be drawn in to support projects in the field of infrastructure and utilities.

The meeting participants paid special attention to this issue, and responsible officials were given relevant instructions.

The importance of striking additional grant deals with donor organizations for countering the coronavirus pandemic was emphasized.

The participants identified tasks to accelerate the attraction and timely targeted development of funds of international financial institutions.