Uzbekistan’s Transport Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing joint infrastructure initiatives, with discussions focusing on speeding up implementation efforts and broadening collaboration in road and tunnel construction. The discussions took place during a meeting held on the sidelines of the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.
The meeting brought together JICA Vice President Yoshikawa Yoshifumi, Deputy Transport Minister of Uzbekistan Ilkhomjon Abdugafarov, and Road Committee Chairman Jamshid Tursunov. During the talks, the participants assessed the status of ongoing transport infrastructure projects that are being carried out with financial support from JICA.
“Specifically, these include projects to build a tunnel connecting the Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions, to reconstruct 37 km of roads and 4 bridges in the Samarkand region, and to reconstruct 45 km of roads in the Andijan region,” the ministry said.
The parties emphasized the significance of delivering these transport infrastructure projects through the application of optimal engineering approaches while maintaining adherence to environmental and sustainability requirements. Discussions also centered on ensuring that implementation moves forward more rapidly. Both sides agreed on the importance of accelerating practical activities related to the transport infrastructure projects and identified further measures required to support their progress.
Alongside project implementation, the officials explored opportunities to deepen professional cooperation between the two sides. Discussions included the development of grant-funded training proposals designed to enable specialists from Uzbekistan’s road sector to learn from Japan’s expertise in the design, construction, and operation of tunnels and highways. Plans were also reviewed for joint capacity-building programs intended to strengthen technical and scientific knowledge within the sector.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was established in 1974 and reorganized in 2008 into one of the world’s largest bilateral development agencies. Headquartered in Tokyo, JICA provides official development assistance through loans, grants, and technical cooperation programs, supporting infrastructure, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and human resource development in more than 150 countries and regions.
