European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs is traveling for the first time to Central Asia starting today (Nov. 15) until Nov. 17. Piebalgs is expected to visit Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for high-level meetings regarding the future of EU development and cooperation with the two countries.
The commissioner is scheduled to discuss the EU’s support for Uzbekistan’s modernization reform with President Islam Karimov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov and Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiev, according to an EU news release.
Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan, Piebalgs will meet with President Rosa Otunbayeva, among other high-ranking government officials. He is also expected to sign a euro2 million (USD2.7 million) funding agreement to support the country’s efforts to ensure food security.
