NEW YORK, September 20, 2017 - The World Bank Group released the following statement after President Jim Yong Kim met with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly Meeting in New York City:
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim met with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to congratulate him on his recent reforms, including the liberalization of the foreign exchange market. He also offered continued World Bank Group support for the country’s modernization program, which includes enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions and growing the private sector.
Kim recognized progress in eliminating systematic child labor, but he also stressed that ongoing comprehensive efforts to end adult forced labor must produce similar strong and rapid results. President Mirziyoyev expressed his commitment to end all forms of forced labor and provided a guarantee that as President he would ensure unannounced and unaccompanied visits by International Labor Organization monitors across Uzbekistan.
Kim also welcomed President Mirziyoyev’s focus on improving regional cooperation as Uzbekistan pursues greater openness with its neighbors in Central Asia and beyond.
