Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator John Barsa announced the establishment of new bilateral USAID Missions in the Republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan at an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation. The announcement comes just months after the public launch of the United States Strategy for Central Asia 2019-2025, and is another example of USAID's long-term commitment to the people of Central Asia.

Joined by His Excellency Farhod Salim, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States, and His Excellency Javlon Vakhabov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States, Acting Administrator Barsa emphasized that USAID is building on our past successes in the region. He stressed we are looking toward the future, by leveraging new opportunities for reform-oriented development as a means to strengthen economic growth, the rule of law, and the management of natural resources, as well as to bolster fair trade, expand connectivity and energy markets, and strengthen regional stability.

Under the Central Asia Strategy, the United States works with governments, civil society, and the private sector in Central Asian countries to build their resilience to short and long-term threats to their stability; to strengthen their independence from malign actors; and to deepen political, economic, and security partnerships with the United States. USAID's new Missions in Dushanbe and Tashkent are expected to be fully operational in Calendar Year 2021.