ArmInfo. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has received three awards from the Association of Development Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) for projects implemented in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The awards ceremony was held during the 49th ADFIAP Annual Meeting in Colombo.
Vera Barkatina, Head of the EDB Technical Assistance Fund Department, accepted the awards on behalf of the EDB.
Kazakhstan's National Water Resources Information System received an honorable mention in the Technological Development category. The system forms the basis for digital water resource management in the country, providing a comprehensive approach—from monitoring and data analysis to planning and management decision-making. The system was developed with grant support from the Eurasian Development Bank's Digital Initiatives Fund.
A wheat flour fortification project in Tajikistan, implemented jointly with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), received an honorable mention in the Corporate Social Responsibility category. The project helps combat "hidden hunger"—vitamin and mineral deficiencies that affect millions of people. Thanks to the project, 10 flour mills received flour fortification equipment, and approximately 70% of the country's population will now receive essential micronutrients in their daily bread.
A project to create an international financial platform in Tashkent won in the Local Economic Development category. The platform is conceived as a comprehensive financial and business ecosystem: it creates a special zone with its own legal and regulatory framework, where investors and financial institutions can operate under transparent international rules. Experts estimate that the project has the potential to attract several billion dollars in additional investment to the Uzbek economy and strengthen the country's position as a regional financial hub.
“These awards are recognition that our projects are changing people's lives for the better. We don't just finance infrastructure; we create systems that last for years after the project's completion,” noted Nikolay Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board.
The ADFIAP Awards are presented annually to development institutions in the Asia-Pacific region for projects that demonstrate measurable contributions to sustainable development. This year, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) also presented its vision for regional integration at the forum: Vera Barkatina, Head of the Technical Assistance Fund Department, described how the bank uses technical assistance to prepare projects and create institutional conditions for investment.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For 20 years, the EDB has been promoting the strengthening and expansion of economic ties and the comprehensive development of its member countries. As of the end of June 2026, the EDB's accumulated portfolio included 348 projects with a total investment volume of USD 22.1 billion. The majority of the EDB's portfolio is comprised of projects with integration effects in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, industry, and mechanical engineering. The Bank is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its activities.
As part of its Strategy 2022–2026, the EDB is implementing three megaprojects: the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex, the Eurasian Transport Framework, and the Eurasian Commodity Distribution Network.
