Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda believes that the global economic crisis will slow in 2010.
"The world economy will leave the global crisis gradually in 2010," the ADB president said during a press conference durnig his visit to Uzbekistan.
He said economic growth in the U.S. will reach 2.3 percent, 1.5-2 percent in Japan, and somewhat slower progress will be observed in the Euro-zone countries.
The ADB head noted that risks may still prevent world economic stability, such as rising prices on basic commodities and oil.
"In 2010, Uzbekistan will be able to achieve a GDP growth of 9 percent," Kuroda said.
The ADB president believes this is due to the Uzbek government taking steps to diversify the economy, developing manufacturing and services using natural resources.
He also stressed Uzbekistan's efforts to support regional cooperation, in particular, by providing the neighboring Afghan capital with electricity and building a railway connecting Uzbekistan and the Afghan city of Mazari-Sharif.
"I am pleased that Uzbekistan provides strong support for regional cooperation, which is developing rapidly," Kuroda said.
Kuroda arrived in Uzbekistan to get acquainted with preparations for the Forty-Third ADB Annual Meeting in Tashkent May 1-4.
During the visit, Kuroda met with Uzbek Foreign Ministry representatives, First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov and President Islam Karimov.
Uzbekistan joined the ADB in 1995. The ADB has provided $1.29 billion to Uzbekistan to implement 30 projects in the education, agriculture, transport infrastructure and energy spheres.
The ADB was created in 1966.
(Trend)