The FINANCIAL — Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Wencai Zhang met with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Zheenbekov on 26 March during a 2-day visit to the country. Mr. Zhang reaffirmed ADB’s long-term partnership with the country and commitment to support its economic development.
“In our two decade-long partnership, we have mobilized over $1.73 billion dollars to help bring better infrastructure and public services to the people of the Kyrgyz Republic,” said Mr. Zhang. “ADB will continue to provide lending, capacity development, and knowledge assistance to support the government to create an enabling infrastructure network for private sector-led growth, with increased regional connectivity and international trade.”
ADB is implementing its Country Operations Business Plan in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2018–2020, which is based on the government’s key development priorities. ADB’s operations in the Kyrgyz Republic are growing. In 2017, ADB’s portfolio in the Kyrgyz Republic was the largest since 2013, with a total of 11 projects totaling $707 million, according to ADB.
Mr. Zhang noted that in partnership with the government, ADB is developing its Country Partnership Strategy for the next five years, which will reflect the priorities set in the government’s Program 2018-2023: 40 Steps to a New Era. It will also incorporate recommendations from ADB’s Country Diagnostic Study, an in-depth analysis of key socio-economic sectors, which is under preparation.
During his visit, Mr. Zhang met with the Prime Minister Sapar Isakov; Minister of Finance and ADB Governor Adylbek Kasymaliev; Minister of Economy Artem Novikov; as well as other key government and development partners.
On 27 March, Mr. Zhang inaugurated ADB’s new Kyrgyz Republic Resident Mission office with the presence of senior government representatives, development partners and representatives from executing and implementing agencies, as well as ADB Country Director Candice McDeigan and ADB staff.
The Kyrgyz Republic joined ADB in 1994 and the country has since received 41 loans totaling $1.09 billion and 36 grants totaling $622.8 million from the Asian Development Fund. The country has also received $9.6 million from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) for projects and 99 ADB-financed technical assistance projects with a total value of $52.0 million.
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