Photo: IDB Press Service
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide $299 million to Uzbekistan to improve inclusive education and modernize the A-373 highway. The agreements were signed in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, during a conference on emerging markets. The documents were signed by IDB President Muhammad Al Jasser and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov, according to the bank’s press service.
The first agreement focuses on the construction of 58 inclusive schools in Uzbekistan. These schools will be equipped with laboratories, specialized furniture, and digital infrastructure. The plan includes building 2,431 classrooms, improving curricula and learning materials, reforming teacher training programs, enhancing student assessment mechanisms, and implementing inclusive education models to ensure equal opportunities for all students. By 2026, all children in Uzbekistan are expected to have access to high-quality inclusive education. The IDB will allocate $160.25 million for this project.
The second agreement covers the reconstruction and modernization of the A-373 highway, with the IDB providing $138.8 million. The funds will help cut travel time by 50% (to 30 minutes by 2030) and reduce traffic accidents by 40% (to 24 incidents per year). The initiative also includes expanding the existing four-lane road to accommodate growing transportation needs, improving regional and local connectivity, enhancing road safety, and optimizing trade routes.
👉 The A-373 highway is part of European Route E007, connecting Tashkent to Osh (Kyrgyzstan). However, the specific section of the road to be upgraded with IDB funding has not been disclosed.
In April 2023, the IDB announced plans to provide Uzbekistan with three loans totaling $396.7 million for:
✅ The construction and renovation of kindergartens
✅ A comprehensive rural development project
✅ The reconstruction and modernization of the M39 highway, which runs through Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan
Since 2003, the IDB has provided $3.46 billion in loans to Uzbekistan.
