Mountains, musings and the ADB
by Rustam

When you look at these gorgeous mountains, inhale the fresh air, I am sure you will fall in love with Uzbekistan’s nature. Needless to say, when you are visiting a bazaar, tasting delicious traditional dishes, or seeing well-wishing faces, you will surely fall in love with its people.

Sometimes I think that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is in love with the government of Uzbekistan. It has continued to provide huge amount of loans to my country. This is contrary to the recent moves by other development banks.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development declared its intentions to stop its public sector projects for Uzbekistan because its political environment has not improved. The World Bank stopped giving new loans because, according to their statement, "resources are spent on projects that deliver tangible development outcomes, and we have some concerns whether in the present environment in Uzbekistan this is guaranteed." Though it recently approved a new country assistance strategy.

Despite everything, the ADB stays faithful to Uzbekistan, making it the largest project loan borrower among its member countries from Central Asia and Caucasus.

Visit Uzbekistan! And probably you will find why the ADB is in love with this country.