Uzbekistan's Ministry of Finance met the International Finance Corporation's regional director for Kazakhstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, Lisa Kestner, to review priority areas of cooperation and how to increase the effectiveness of ongoing joint projects. The agenda focused on public-private partnership infrastructure delivery and financial sector priorities. Key PPP projects discussed included a multi-profile modern hospital in Fergana region, improvements to the electricity supply system in Samarkand, construction of modern toll roads, irrigation system development and hydropower plant projects. The sides also discussed expanding cooperation on mortgage refinancing, accelerating the transformation and privatisation of state-owned banks, and developing new initiatives to support the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises, including youth and women entrepreneurship and opportunities for startups. The meeting concluded with agreement to further develop cooperation and pursue the agreed objectives through more systematic work.