Banks from Hong Kong are considering taking part in financing the construction of the planned toll road connecting Tashkent and Samarkand.

Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov discussed the project on August 28 during a meeting with Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for the Belt and Road Initiative Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport.

The sides reviewed cooperation between Uzbekistan and China in transport, freight transportation and infrastructure development. They also discussed the implementation of agreements reached during a May visit to Hong Kong by an Uzbek delegation led by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov.

A key focus of the meeting was the potential involvement of Hong Kong banks in financing the Tashkent-Samarkand toll highway. Ho described the project as a priority in Hong Kong’s portfolio of potential projects.

The officials also discussed signing an air services agreement and launching direct flights between Uzbekistan and Hong Kong.

The two sides agreed to continue working on the detailed development of promising joint projects.