MANILLA (ADB press service) — ADB has approved a $500 mln loan to help the Government of Uzbekistan mitigate the adverse health and economic impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

ADB’s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program will help to fund the government’s comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response plan:

ADB’s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program aims to help to fund the government’s comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response plan, including strengthening readiness of the country’s health care system. This includes strengthening the readiness of the country’s health care system, supporting initiatives to help businesses affected by the downturn, minimizing job losses, and helping to expand existing social protection systems.

The loan will support initiatives to help businesses affected by the down1turn including tax measures and loan repayment deferments to support SMEs, of which around 40% are owned or managed by women.

ADB’s program will support the government as it expands the number of low-income households receiving social and childcare assistance from 595,400 to 843,000 with priority given to single mothers, divorced women, and widows.