Speaking at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors in Samarkand on September 25, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the country's significant economic strides and ambitious plans for future development. He highlighted that Uzbekistan's GDP had more than doubled, surpassing $100 bn for the first time, to reach $160bn in the next five years. Mirziyoyev also emphasized the nation's progress in poverty reduction, cutting the rate from 23% to 11% in four years, with plans to halve it by 2030.
"By the end of this year, we aim to bring it down to 9%, and by 2030, we aim to halve this figure," he added, underlining the nation's commitment to socioeconomic growth.
Furthermore, the president highlighted several pressing global issues, including geopolitical instability, food and energy shortages, and environmental crises. "A quarter of the world’s population faces clean drinking water shortages," Mirziyoyev noted, pointing to the acceleration of climate change and the associated risks. He stressed the need for global collaboration, adding that "by 2030, the world will need $15 trillion in infrastructure investments."
President Mirziyoyev commended the AIIB's significant role in addressing global risks, stating, "The AIIB, with its $55 billion portfolio, has become one of the most influential financial organizations in the world." He emphasized the importance of international financial institutions in promoting sustainable growth and mitigating global challenges.
The president stressed the importance of human capital for long-term economic stability. "Over the past eight years, we have increased preschool enrolment from 27% to 74%, and higher education enrolment from 9% to 38%," Mirziyoyev explained. He announced plans to continue expanding educational opportunities, including the construction of 100 new schools annually, supported by $2 billion in investments. "We propose to designate projects in education as a promising area for cooperation with international financial organizations."
Uzbekistan has prioritized large-scale infrastructure development. "The annual demand for infrastructure improvements in Uzbekistan is equal to 10% of GDP," President Mirziyoyev stated, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP). The president mentioned ongoing projects, including the construction of toll roads and high-speed railways, as well as the modernization of airports. "We have adopted a program for PPP projects worth $30bn by 2030," he added, noting that Uzbekistan is already making strides with ongoing AIIB-supported projects.
The president emphasized Uzbekistan's commitment to green energy, to achieve 40% green energy by 2030. "We will launch 18 gigawatts of solar and wind power and invest $5bn in electricity grids," Mirziyoyev said. He welcomed the AIIB's alignment with Uzbekistan’s green energy goals, noting the potential for international cooperation in this sector. "We propose the development of a 'Green Energy Programme' for Central Asia under the leadership of the AIIB," he suggested, outlining the country's vision for sustainable development in energy infrastructure.
With a population of over 80 mn, Central Asia faces increasing demand for large infrastructure projects. "The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is a major regional initiative," Mirziyoyev said, highlighting the significance of regional cooperation. He also stressed the importance of addressing water scarcity, proposing the establishment of a "Regional Centre for Water-Saving Technologies" in collaboration with the AIIB. Water security, along with infrastructure and renewable energy, forms a core part of Uzbekistan’s regional strategy for growth and stability.
Mirziyoyev acknowledged the AIIB's ongoing support for Uzbekistan’s reforms and development efforts. "Uzbekistan has become one of the AIIB’s top 10 partners," he said, referencing projects worth $3bn currently being implemented in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and transport. Notably, a $720mn project will improve drinking water access in the Bukhara region, benefiting 1.5 mn people. Further underscoring the strong partnership, Mirziyoyev announced a new agreement with the AIIB to implement another $4bn in projects over the next three years.
Held in Samarkand for the first time, the summit brought together 2,000 representatives from over 100 countries, highlighting Uzbekistan's growing role as an international platform for dialogue on global and regional issues.
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