Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan. 21 / Trend D. Azizov /
The World Bank team presented the conclusions and strategic recommendations on the potential for modernization of national quality infrastructure as a way of improving international competitiveness among enterprises in Uzbekistan at a workshop called, "Role of national quality infrastructure in the strategy of modernizing the country," the World Bank office in Tashkent reported.
In particular, a number of factors limiting the modernization of quality in Uzbekistan was revealed. The phased reforms aimed at structural improvement of the quality infrastructure and introduction of international best practice regarding transparency, openness, consistency, impartiality, technical reliability and recommendatory standards were also proposed.
According to the World Bank experts, such reforms will help industrial enterprises to expand the access to high-quality resources. They will facilitate implementing international standards by small enterprises to improve the investment climate and to increase competitiveness.
"The export-oriented quality infrastructure suitable for business is a necessary term for entering the regional and global markets, as well as a key factor determining a competitive advantage in today's business environment," the head of the World Bank in Uzbekistan Takuya Kamata said.
The press-release noted that Uzbekistan takes several measures to bring its standards in conformity with those of major trading partners and increase the number of local companies with international certification to stimulate trade and spread technologies.
The workshop was organized by the Agency UzStandard together with the World Bank, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and the German National Institute of Metrology. The representatives of state bodies and quality infrastructure institutions, test laboratories, business sector, research institutes, consumer protection and environmental protection bodies, as well as donor organizations.
Uzbekistan joined the World Bank in 1992. The World Bank's current program in Uzbekistan is aimed at assisting the country to improve access to health services, further development of school education, rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, promotion of private farms, laying pipelines with drinking water in rural and urban settlements, restoration and development of public services, and investing in public goods, energy and climate change.
So far the bank has provided the country with credits and loans totaling about $860 million.