On November 21, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica announced that a financial package of € 25 million will be allocated to upkeep rural business and people in Uzbekistan.

This statement was made during the meeting of the Commissioner with the Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, which was organized within the framework of the talks between the Council of Cooperation of the EU and Uzbekistan in Brussels.

“On the one hand, today’s agreement worth € 25 million will support the rural economy in order to strengthen the sustainable development chain of the creation of value and on the other hand, it will increase the level of public services, for example, speed up business registration,” Mr. Mimica said.

The funds will be directed to two projects: “Development of the livestock sector” and “Provision of public services and management in rural areas”.

The first project will receive € 15 million and last until 2025. It is expected that funding will improve the development of policies to increase the quality of services and researches in the field of veterinary.

The second one will be allotted € 10 million and will be carried out until 2024. It will enhance the extended participation of beneficiaries through various mechanisms of social responsibility. This will increase the transparency of the system of public service delivery.

The EU has been actively operating in Uzbekistan since 1996 and annually grants € 24 million in order to assist in development.