RIYADH, August 3. /Dunyo IA/. Leading Saudi media outlets – “Dawaa News”, “Arab News”, “Mubasher Banks” and “Ar Riyadh” - have published reports on the official visit of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health to Uzbekistan and new Islamic trade finance agreements for Uzbek businesses, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the “Dawaa News” portal, following the visit of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel to Tashkent on July 27^th, the two sides moved healthcare cooperation into a practical phase by signing a package of six documents with Seha Virtual Hospital, National Health Insurance Center of Saudi Arabia, “Lean Business Services” and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev highlighted a portfolio of joint investments comprising 48 projects worth $24.8 billion across various sectors beyond healthcare. The publication paid particular attention to the construction of an 800-bed multidisciplinary hospital in the Fergana region, with an estimated cost of around $300 million. The project is the largest joint healthcare initiative between the two countries and is being implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the participation of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision Invest” and the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.

Newspaper “Arab News” reported that the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) signed a $100 million trade finance agreement with Uzbekistan’s “Hamkorbank” - the largest transaction of its kind for the bank in the country. The publication also recalled that in June, “Fitch Ratings” upgraded its outlook for Uzbekistan to “Positive”, while affirming the country’s BB rating and projecting economic growth of 6.3 percent in 2026.

“Mubasher Banks” portal reported that the same ITFC provided Uzbekistan’s “Ipak Yuli” Bank with $75 million to support women’s entrepreneurship and green financing. Meanwhile, the newspaper “Ar Riyadh” covered President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s meeting with the Saudi delegation on July 28^th, during which the sides discussed healthcare modernization, pharmaceuticals and the construction of a clinic, agreeing to develop a “roadmap” for new projects.