Uzbekistan is at the forefront of a transformative journey, aiming to modernize its economy and infrastructure. Central to this ambitious agenda are Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), strategically designed to leverage the strengths of both the public and private sectors in delivering efficient public services and infrastructure, International Finance Corporation (IFC) reported on LinkedIn on March 1.
Recently, a candid roundtable discussion on PPPs took place in Tashkent, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The dialogue highlighted Uzbekistan's achievements in this domain and identified key areas for improvement to further ramp up the PPP program and bolster the country's transformation.
The commitment of the Uzbek government to PPPs is resolute, viewing them as integral to its strategy for delivering enhanced public services and attracting essential investment and expertise. Uzbekistan has witnessed a remarkable surge in PPP projects, with over 400 infrastructure projects, valued at an estimated $16 bn, either developed or in development. This represents a remarkable shift, considering the absence of private sector participation in Uzbekistan's projects before 2018.
IFC has played a pivotal role in supporting these initiatives, providing guidance to the government since 2018. Through collaborations with the World Bank, IFC has facilitated the opening of Uzbekistan's power sector to private investment, implementing PPP projects that efficiently attract foreign capital. Notably, the Nur Navoi solar plant, Uzbekistan's inaugural solar tender, structured with IFC's assistance, has yielded highly competitive tariffs.
Currently, PPP projects span various sectors such as energy, healthcare, and education, with an anticipated mobilization of approximately $700 mn. Additionally, several projects in energy, healthcare, and the chemicals sector, with a total expected mobilization exceeding $1.8 bn, have been successfully concluded.
Looking ahead, Uzbekistan's ambitious Strategy 2030 aims to mobilize $30 bn from the private sector by 2030.
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