USAID’s New Regional Mission Director for the Central Asian Republics Visits Uzbekistan

Jonathan Addleton, the new Regional Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development for the Central Asian Republics, will travel to Uzbekistan on January 22-27.

During his first official visit to the country, Mr. Addleton will meet with senior officials from the Government of Uzbekistan, as well as with representatives of the private sector, local NGOs and other civil society institutions to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues.

Ambassador Addleton is a career Senior Foreign Service Officer with the rank of Career Minister. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia (2009-2012) and then as U.S. Senior Civilian Representative in southern Afghanistan based in Kandahar (2012-2013). He has also served as USAID Representative to the European Union; USAID Mission Director to Pakistan, Cambodia, and Mongolia; and a USAID Program Officer in Jordan, South Africa, and Yemen.

In Uzbekistan, USAID works to improve the livelihoods of citizens by supporting private sector development in the agriculture sector, and strengthening the country’s ability to address the threats of infectious disease and human trafficking. USAID also supports grassroots community efforts and government reform initiatives to bolster Uzbekistan’s development.

USAID assistance increases farmers’ incomes and strengthens businesses that are critical to the farm-to-market chain. It also promotes more robust bilateral and regional trade. It helps the government of Uzbekistan to improve tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) began assistance to Uzbekistan in 1993, soon after the country became independent. Since that time, the American people, through USAID, have provided over $320 million for programs that support the development of a prosperous Uzbekistan. In 2013, USAID celebrated its 20th anniversary of its presence in Uzbekistan.