SAMARKAND, MAY 4 /DNA/ – President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan announced a new $12 billion cooperation program with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday, while proposing a series of regional initiatives including a “Central Asia Green Belt” and a “Digital Customs and Logistics Alliance” to tackle climate change and supply chain disruptions.

Speaking at the 59th ADB Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors—the first time Uzbekistan has hosted the prestigious forum—President Mirziyoyev outlined his vision for a technologically driven “New Uzbekistan” and called for deeper multilateral cooperation to address global economic turbulence.

“Our land, located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, has long been a center connecting East and West,” Mirziyoyev told over 4,000 delegates from more than 100 countries. “I am confident that the Samarkand forum will serve to advance progressive ideas and new initiatives.”

The President highlighted Uzbekistan’s rapid economic transformation since 2016, noting that foreign investment has reached $150billionandthenationaleconomyhasgrownfrom$150billionandthenationaleconomyhasgrownfrom50 billion to $147 billion. Despite global instability, Uzbekistan recorded 8.7% GDP growth in the first quarter of this year.

He emphasized social progress, stating that the poverty rate has been slashed from nearly 35% to just 5.8%, lifting the incomes of 8.5 million people.

“Our reforms have focused primarily on improving the daily lives of every single family,” Mirziyoyev said. By 2030, the government aims to double the economy to over $240 billion and eradicate poverty completely.

Key Proposals to the ADB

The President put forward six major initiatives for joint action with the Bank:

1. AI Hub & Digital Highway: Uzbekistan is establishing an “Artificial Intelligence Hub” and proposes opening a regional coordination center for the ADB’s “Digital Highway for Asia” initiative in Tashkent.
2. Green Energy Corridor: With the share of renewable energy already at 30%, Uzbekistan backs the creation of a Central Asia–Europe “green” energy corridor to expand clean energy exports.
3. Digital Customs Alliance: To combat rising freight costs and delays, Mirziyoyev proposed a “Digital Customs and Logistics Alliance” under the ADB’s CAREC program to streamline cross-border cargo transportation.
4. Critical Minerals Program: Noting that demand for critical minerals will rise sixfold by 2040, Uzbekistan proposed joining the ADB’s “From Critical Minerals to Manufacturing” program to develop deep processing of copper, tungsten, and titanium reserves.
5. Central Asia Green Belt: To combat desertification and the ecological fallout from the Aral Sea disaster, the President proposed a regional “Central Asia Green Belt” project. He noted that Uzbekistan has already planted 200 million seedlings annually for five years.
6. Central Asia Tourism Ring: With foreign tourist numbers reaching 12 million (a sixfold increase in a decade), Mirziyoyev called for a joint portfolio to create a “Central Asia Tourism Ring” uniting regional destinations.

President Mirziyoyev personally thanked ADB President Masato Kanda for the Bank’s steadfast support, revealing that a new $12billioncooperationprogramwassignedthepreviousday\mathrm{.}OngoingADB-backedprojectsinUzbekistanarecurrentlyvaluedatnearly$12billioncooperationprogramwassignedthepreviousday.OngoingADB−backedprojectsinUzbekistanarecurrentlyvaluedatnearly16 billion.

“We stand ready to implement all these proposals not only through sovereign lending, but also through public-private partnerships, guarantee instruments, and blended finance,” Mirziyoyev said, proposing the establishment of an “Innovative Financing Platform” for regional projects.

The 59th Annual Meeting continues in Samarkand through the week, bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors, and private sector leaders from across Asia.