ADB President Signs Loan for ICT Education Project

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (10 November 2005) - ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda and Uzbek Finance Minister Saidakhmad Rakhimov today signed an agreement for a $30 million ADB loan to better integrate information and communication technology - including computers and web access - into basic education in Uzbekistan.

The project will directly benefit some 540,000 students in grades five to nine, as well as 89,000 teachers, in predominantly poor, rural and remote areas.

"Making information and communication technology an integral part of basic education is key to Uzbekistan's long-term strategy for transforming its education system into one consistent with a market-based economy for the 21st century," Mr. Kuroda said at the ceremony.

"ADB sees education as a continuing primary area of partnership with the Government. We look forward to working closely with the Government to ensure the smooth implementation of this project for the benefit of the young people of Uzbekistan."

ADB helped prepare the Government's national strategy for integrating information and communication technology (ICT) in schools. The strategy aims to integrate ICT in schools nationwide in a sustainable manner and with equal access for schools in remote areas.

"The Government considers ADB an active partner in implementing this strategy," said Lan Wu, ADB Principal Social Sector Economist. "This is ADB's seventh loan to the education sector in Uzbekistan and this signing is an important step that clears the way to quickly implementing it."

ADB has a strong relationship with Uzbekistan in education and has provided $260 million in loans to the sector since 1997, including projects for the development of textbooks and the textbook rental scheme, policy reform, rural school development, and senior secondary education development. ADB has also provided 10 technical assistance projects for the education sector totaling $4 million.

Uzbekistan joined ADB in 1995. As of 31 October 2005 cumulative lending to the country stood at $890 million for 18 loans. ADB has approved 58 technical assistance grants to Uzbekistan totaling $30 million.

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