China’s Eximbank to provide $220M for irrigation projects in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan will embark on a large-scale reconstruction of irrigation systems in four regions with $220 million in funding from the Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank). President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the corresponding decree on November 29.

The projects, aimed at improving water supply for agricultural lands, will focus on Bukhara, Namangan, and Surkhandarya regions with an investment of $160 million, while the Kashkadarya region will receive $60 million for similar efforts, Spot reported.

The financing will come in the form of concessional loans from Eximbank. Chinese state-owned enterprises CITIC Construction and China CAMC Engineering have been designated as the general contractors for the projects. Design work will be overseen by the Suvloyiha Institute for Kashkadarya and UzGIP for the other regions.

Within a month, technical and economic feasibility studies for the projects are to be completed. Starting in 2025, Uzbekistan will finalize loan agreements with Eximbank based on the approved feasibility studies. The loans will be disbursed in installments, aligned with the progress of work completed.

The announcement coincides with the opening of Eximbank’s regional office in Tashkent on November 22. The office will coordinate the bank’s operations across eight countries: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.

Eximbank Vice President Yang Dongning highlighted that the bank has already financed over 50 projects in Uzbekistan, totaling more than $3 billion. These initiatives span industries such as chemicals, energy, transport, agriculture, and water management.

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