Press Releases

On October 24, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and Ministers from the Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan under the auspices of the C5+1 regional diplomatic platform.

Today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Administrator Samantha Power chaired the C5+1 Regional Connectivity Ministerial with the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. During the ministerial, Administrator Power announced an additional $14.3 million in regional programming demonstrating the deepening partnerships between the United States and Central Asian countries.

Today, Administrator Samantha Power visited a school in Tashkent and announced a new initiative to help improve the quality of instruction, materials, and support that every child needs to succeed in school, with an initial-year investment of $4.5 million. 

Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today to deepen the U.S. partnership with the people of Uzbekistan. During her visit, she will announce new investments, including an additional $14.2 million to strengthen collaboration in global health, governance, and economic growth. 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announces the launch of the second phase of its Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea activity. USAID will provide up to $1.6 million, subject to the availability of funds, to expand the project from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, which will improve resilience to the adverse effects of desertification in the Aral Sea region by growing new forests.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a business development program for rural women entrepreneurs and artisans in the decorative felt production industry in Karakalpakstan.

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a vocational and entrepreneurship training program for approximately 1,000 rural women who are either survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) or are at-risk for GBV. USAID will also support graduates in finding skilled employment and starting their own businesses. This initiative is part of USAID’s $3.4 million Women’s Economic Empowerment program supporting rural women in Uzbekistan through equipping them with the skills they need to enter the economy as skilled employees and entrepreneurs.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Agency for Development of Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan, has facilitated the expedited registration of six tuberculosis (TB) medications over the last year and a half. With USAID technical assistance, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health adopted the World Health Organization (WHO)’s collaborative registration procedure for the accelerated registration of medicines (CRP) which facilitates rapid, safe access to new medicines for TB patients in Uzbekistan.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the 12th annual Central Asia Trade Forum(link is external) themed, “Digitalization of Customs Services. Pathway to Paperless Trade” in Astana, Kazakhstan. It is a flagship international two-day event for advancing connectivity and trade.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the launch of the second phase of its Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea (ERAS II) activity. USAID will spend approximately $1.6 million to counter the adverse effects of desertification in the Aral Sea region by improving air quality and living conditions and by strengthening climate change resilience.