Japan allocates $147 million loan for construction of neurology and stroke center in Tashkent

On January 20, 2025, at the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Uzbekistan, H.E. Hatori Takashi, and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, signed exchange notes for a yen loan under the “Project to Improve Healthcare and Medical Services.” The total loan amount is ¥22.953 billion ($147 million) and will be issued under special economic cooperation terms.

With Uzbekistan’s economic growth and lifestyle changes, the number of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases such as strokes has been increasing. In Tashkent, there is an insufficient number of hospitals specializing in neurological diseases. Additionally, tertiary hospitals in the regions often lack or have inadequate medical equipment for treating neurological disorders, preventing timely access to appropriate medical care.

To address these challenges, the project aims to construct a Neurology and Stroke Center in Tashkent and equip it with advanced medical equipment. It will also provide medical equipment to tertiary healthcare facilities in Samarkand and Bukhara, significantly improving the treatment of non-communicable diseases, including neurological conditions.

The project will enhance the quality of healthcare services, particularly for non-communicable diseases, and strengthen the health of Uzbekistan’s population. It will also develop the center as a training hub for medical personnel, further advancing the country’s medical education system.

Loan terms:

• Interest rate: 0.50% (standard rate), 0.40% for advisory services
• Repayment period: 40 years (including a 10-year grace period)