USA pledges 100m dollars in aid for Uzbekistan


Uzbek TV
December 5

The US government has confirmed its intention to provide comprehensive financial assistance to Uzbekistan, Uzbek TV reported on 5 December, quoting an Uzbek-US memorandum signed in Washington last week. It reported that this year the United States would provide 100m dollars to Uzbekistan as "free economic and humanitarian aid" and to ensure Uzbekistan's security. Furthermore, the report said the US Export-Import Bank had pledged a 50m-dollar credit to develop private business in Uzbekistan. The pledges were made during a visit by a senior Uzbek delegation to Washington from 26 to 30 November.

The Uzbek delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, held talks at the National Security Council, Congress, the State Department, the Treasury, Defence, Commerce and Agriculture Departments, at the Export-Import Bank, the Trade and Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and at other US departments.

The delegation conveyed a message from Uzbek President Islam Karimov to US President George Bush during talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The talks resulted in the signing of a memorandum between the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United States on further developing bilateral cooperation and supporting economic reform in Uzbekistan.

The memorandum said that the US government confirmed its intention:

To develop and provide comprehensive financial and economic assistance to the Republic of Uzbekistan aimed at ensuring social and financial stability, including aid to support the balance of payments and the state budget;

To carry out active work to advance the programme of projects being implemented under the auspices of economic and financial agencies of the US administration and other US financial, trade and investment organizations;

Together with the Uzbek government, to work on attracting additional financial resources from international financial institutions and other international groups, including the European Union, G8 and others;

To assist in implementing the Uzbek National Staff training programme;

To provide, already this year, 100m dollars as free economic and humanitarian aid and as aid for ensuring security;

To provide additional credits under the US Export-Import Bank's insurance to implement investment projects in the priority sectors of the Uzbek economy.

Both parties have agreed to further improve the legislation basis of bilateral cooperation.

The Uzbek delegation also signed a memorandum with the US Export-Import Bank for a 50m-dollar credit to help small and medium-sized businesses, and an agreement with the Trade and Development Agency aimed at preparing and implementing major investment projects in the priority sectors of the Uzbek economy.

The Uzbek delegation also discussed expanding financial cooperation during talks at the IMF and the World Bank.