Uzbekistan signed a $100mn loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the “STEM in Secondary Education” project, aimed at modernizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning in schools across the country.
On November 17, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev met with ADB President Masato Kanda to review ongoing cooperation and outline future priorities.
The discussions, which marked the 30th anniversary of the Uzbekistan–ADB partnership, also included participation from Akram Aliev, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.
Officials noted that collaboration between Uzbekistan and the ADB has steadily expanded across transport, energy, water supply, education, private sector development, and business support. The Uzbek side expressed appreciation for the ADB’s role in advancing reforms and projects that improve citizens’ quality of life.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the 59th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors, set to take place in Samarkand in May 2026, with a joint roadmap proposed to coordinate the event.
Medium-term initiatives discussed included expanded financing mechanisms, development of economic zone infrastructure, support for women’s and youth employment, and incentives for export-oriented enterprises. The parties also exchanged views on the new Uzbekistan–ADB Country Partnership Strategy for 2026–2030.
