Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A meeting took place at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan with representatives from the World Bank, focusing on issues related to comprehensive regional development.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Abdulaziz Khaydarov and Samandar Sadullayev, along with several key ministry staff members. From the World Bank, senior urban development specialist Mohammed Nada and consultant Gerhard van Land participated in the discussions.

The main topics of discussion included comprehensive regional development, strengthening the autonomy of local budgets, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating new jobs. Participants also exchanged views on identifying growth points in various regions of the country.

Particular attention was given to the recent Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Priority Measures for the Implementation of the ‘From Poverty to Prosperity’ Program." This document selected 15 districts and cities for intensive development in 2024-2025.

According to the decree, 500 billion soums will be allocated for social and infrastructure projects in 2024, and 1 trillion soums in 2025 from the state budget. These funds will be directed toward projects that stimulate high economic growth in the identified regions.

Based on the master plan developed in collaboration with the World Bank, there are plans to transform the selected districts and cities into favorable regions for entrepreneurs, as well as to define subprojects aimed at further development and the creation of high-income jobs.

Additionally, cooperation with the World Bank under the "Comprehensive Development of Medium Cities" project was discussed, with an emphasis on implementing "green" urban planning and modern architectural solutions.

Representatives of the World Bank provided their suggestions, remarks, and expectations, noting the alignment of cooperation plans with the bank’s strategy.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue jointly exploring regional potential and to intensify consultations for further development.