World Bank approves $150 million for Uzbekistan rural infrastructure

The World Bank has approved $150 million in concessional financing for Uzbekistan under the second phase of its Rural Infrastructure Development Program.

The project aims to improve roads, water supply systems, electricity networks and other essential services for around 1.2 million residents of remote mahallas, while also creating new jobs, Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

The program will be implemented by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The second phase will cover 296 mahallas in the Andijan, Fergana, Namangan, Jizzakh, Syr Darya and Tashkent regions.

The program’s total financing amounts to $340 million, with contributions from the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Uzbek government.

By 2031, the initiative is expected to improve rural access to basic infrastructure and expand economic opportunities for women and young people.

The program also предусматривает the establishment of business development centres to support entrepreneurs engaged in agricultural processing and small-scale manufacturing.

The first phase of the program concluded in June, covering more than 300 mahallas and delivering over 900 infrastructure projects.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov