The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Minister of Finance and Trade, Sardor Umurzakov, to explore broader cooperation opportunities for economic growth and development, and ways to contribute to the country’s prosperity by promoting more robust and inclusive bilateral and regional trade in Central Asia, leveraging private sector investments.
With the United States and Uzbekistan having commemorated 30 years of bilateral relations last month, Administrator Power thanked Minister Umurzakov for Uzbekistan’s enduring friendship and underscored USAID’s commitment to supporting Uzbekistan’s independence, economic growth, and progress on democratic reforms. Administrator Power and Deputy Prime Minister Umurzakov discussed how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is impacting economics, remittances, trade, and migration for Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations.
Administrator Power and Deputy Prime Minister Umurzakov also discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan. To date, USAID has provided nearly $12 million in COVID-19 assistance to the country, which complements more than 7.6 million vaccine doses provided by the U.S. Government. Administrator Power and Deputy Prime Minister Umurzakov agreed on the need for continued partnership on supporting Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization. Administrator Power also underscored the importance of respect for human rights and highlighted strong U.S. support for due process, freedom of expression, and protection of civic space.
Original source can be found here.
