First USAID Mission Director arrived in Uzbekistan
Mikaela Meredith became the first director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Uzbekistan, which opened last year.
On June 10, Mikaela Meredith took up her duties as the first Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Uzbekistan. This was reported by the press service of the US Embassy in Tashkent.
Michaela Meredith has nearly 30 years of development experience with USAID. Prior to her appointment, she served as USAID Country Representative in Albania from 2018 to 2021 and USAID Mission Director in Azerbaijan from 2015 to 2018. She has also held positions in Yemen, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Washington (USA). He holds a master's degree from the School of International Relations at Columbia University in New York (USA).
“We are seeing the beginning of a new chapter in USAID's partnership with the government and people of Uzbekistan,” said Alan Melzer, US Charge d'Affaires in Uzbekistan. "USAID's expanded presence will enhance our overall ability to support Uzbekistan in building a vibrant private sector and civil society, tackling climate change, modernizing education and health systems, and strengthening good governance."
“The establishment of the new mission was part of the US Strategy for Central Asia, adopted in 2020 and recently reaffirmed by the Biden administration,” said Mikaela Meredith. “It is a great honor and privilege for me to be the first director of the USAID mission in Uzbekistan. This is an important task, which I start with all responsibility, ”she added.
USAID's bilateral mission in Uzbekistan was established in September 2020. The new mission underlines the long-term commitment of the US government to the government and people of Uzbekistan, the US diplomatic mission said in a statement.
In Uzbekistan, USAID supports initiatives to improve economic growth, trade, and support for the private sector. Other priority areas include education, water management, health care, rule of law and citizens' access to justice, as well as issues related to renewable energy, safe migration and anti-trafficking.
USAID's partnership with Uzbekistan began shortly after the country's independence. Since 1992, the United States, through USAID, has allocated more than $ 500 million for programs supporting the development of Uzbekistan.
Source: gazeta.uz