Uzbekistan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed two agreements to finance projects in education and road infrastructure. This was reported by the press service of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, according to Gazeta.uz.
On February 16, during the Al-Ula Conference for Emerging Market Economies in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Jamshid Kuchkarov, met with the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Muhammad Al Jasser.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance did not disclose the loan amounts, but the IsDB published the financing details.
Education sector investment
Under the first agreement, the IsDB will provide $160.25 million to develop inclusive education in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the SmartED program. The project aims to improve education quality and learning conditions across the country and includes:
- Construction of 58 modern schools equipped with inclusive environments, laboratory facilities, furniture, and digital infrastructure;
- Creation of 2,431 new classrooms nationwide;
- Development of new curricula and educational materials, with a shift toward a competency-based learning approach;
- Reforming teacher training and professional development programs;
- Enhancing student assessment mechanisms and school efficiency evaluation;
- Implementing inclusive education models to ensure equal opportunities for all students.
By 2026, all schoolchildren in Uzbekistan are expected to have improved access to quality education under a competency-based, inclusive, and accountable system. The project's goal is to enhance the learning environment and establish a sustainable, competency-based education system to improve student performance nationwide.
Road infrastructure development
The IsDB will also allocate $138.8 million for the reconstruction of 37 km of the A373 highway, which runs through three districts of the Syrdarya region - Akaltyn, Mirzaabad, and Sardoba. The project aims to:
- Reduce travel time by 50% to 30 minutes by 2030;
- Cut road accident rates by 40%, bringing the number of annual incidents down to 24;
- Modernize the four-lane highway to increase its traffic capacity.
Additionally, the project is expected to boost regional and international transport integration, facilitate trade, tourism, and transit routes development.
As of July 1, 2024, Uzbekistan’s public debt exceeded $37 billion, with obligations to the Islamic Development Bank totaling $921 million.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 19, 2025