The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the government of Uzbekistan have signed two major financing agreements to enhance the country’s education system and road infrastructure. The agreements were formalized during the Al-Ula Conference for Emerging Market Economies, with IsDB Group Chairman Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov leading the signing ceremony.
The first agreement focuses on enhancing the quality and efficiency of Uzbekistan's education system, with IsDB contributing $160.25mn. In collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education, the project will establish 58 inclusive schools equipped with modern classrooms, laboratories, digital tools, and improved learning facilities.
Additionally, the initiative will introduce 2,431 new classrooms, enhance teacher training, reform curricula, and improve student assessment systems. A key focus is on inclusive education, ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students. By 2026, the program aims to provide a competency-based, accountable education system that benefits both boys and girls across Uzbekistan.
The second agreement focuses on the reconstruction and expansion of the A373 Road, a key transport route. With IsDB financing of $138.80mn, the project seeks to cut travel time by 50%, reducing it to just 30 minutes by 2030. Additionally, it aims to lower traffic accidents by 40%, bringing annual incidents down to 24.
The project will upgrade the current four-lane dual carriageway to handle increasing traffic volumes while improving connectivity, trade routes, and regional integration. Enhanced road safety measures will also facilitate smoother travel for both local and international trade, boosting tourism and economic activity in the region.
In 2024, Uzbekistan’s collaboration with IsDB has reached a milestone, with a project portfolio exceeding $4bn, 40% of which is aimed at supporting private-sector development. The investments under the IsDB Country Strategy for Uzbekistan have also already fulfilled 50% of the $1.2bn target set to be completed by the end of 2026.
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