The World Bank and the Government of Uzbekistan signed a grant agreement of US$517,000 on 10 June to support agricultural reforms in the country

The World Bank and the Government of Uzbekistan signed a grant agreement of US$517,000 on 10 June to support agricultural reforms in the country. Funding for the grant is being provided by the Government of Japan. The purpose of the grant is to support the implementation of the Rural Enterprise Support Project, which main objectives are to increase profitability and productivity in the agricultural sector; support the emergence of private sector initiatives; and ensure sustainability of the agricultural sector through rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems and improved farm management. On behalf of the Government of Uzbekistan the grant was signed by Mr Rustam Azimov – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. The World Bank’s Country Manager for Uzbekistan, Mr Martin Raiser signed the grant for the World Bank. His Excellency Mr Akio Kawato– Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan took part at the ceremony. In the words of Martin Raiser, “the signing of this grant is one further step in the implementation of an ambitious set of reforms developed by the Government with support from the World Bank in five pilot districts of Uzbekistan, which will bring higher incomes to farmers, increase their incentives to produce, and ultimately will significantly increase agricultural productivity”.