To mark Defenders of the Homeland Day and the 34th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of significant state events were held. Key events included an expanded meeting of the Security Council chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a tour of the defense industry's production facilities, and the head of state's address to military personnel and compatriots.

In this regard, a correspondent of Dunyo IA approached Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, with a request to comment on the key outcomes of these events and the tasks outlined by the country’s leader:

- It's no exaggeration to say that today, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Uzbekistan laid the foundation for a new stage in the modernization of the national army—its high-tech transformation. I would even say that Shavkat Miromonovich's congratulations this year were not simply a tribute to tradition, but a kind of manifesto for the "New Look Army," where intelligence and technology must finally supplant outdated approaches to warfare. In the President's vision, security is not an isolated military task, but a multidimensional foundation for the sustainable development of the state in the digital age.

By analyzing the key messages of the head of state, one can trace a clear and consistent logic for the transformation of all elements of the public administration system.

The key innovation of the current stage of reforms lies in the recognition of the profound transformation of the very nature of modern warfare, in which technological superiority, rather than personnel numbers, is decisive. This is why the President of Uzbekistan has set the task of a large-scale doctrinal update: the development of a new version of the Defense Doctrine and the National Security Concept has been initiated. This is dictated by the need to adapt strategic documents to the conditions of hybrid threats while simultaneously maintaining Uzbekistan's non-aligned status and reliance on multilateral diplomacy. This sends a clear signal to the country about the predictability and sovereignty of the republic's course.

The central element of the updated strategy is the transition to a “proactive mode of operation,” in which the security system must not only respond to emerging threats, but also be capable of predicting risks in advance and neutralizing them at an early stage.

This intellectualization of security naturally requires a review of the Armed Forces' technical makeup. In this regard, the head of state initiated a thorough re-equipment of the army, prioritizing the implementation of artificial intelligence, robotic systems, and modern cybersecurity systems. It was emphasized that in modern conflicts, victory is achieved not by the number of bayonets, but by technological superiority and the speed of information processing. In this context, the digital transformation of the army becomes an undisputed priority. In other words, in modern warfare, intelligence is more important than mass, and victory is determined by the quality of technology and management.

At the same time, high technology demands a fundamentally new level of competence. Therefore, a true personnel transformation has been initiated: the army is being positioned not as a closed institution, but as a modern educational and technological platform. It is becoming a school of life and professional growth, as well as a driver of economic development. Every year, 5,000 conscripts will undergo training under the "One Million Programmers" and "Five Million AI Leaders" programs. This strategic move allows us to simultaneously address two objectives: increasing the army's cyber resilience and creating a pool of in-demand specialists for the country's economy.

Furthermore, the program provides for training soldiers in civilian professions, with the issuance of state-issued certificates upon completion of their service. For military personnel opening a business after demobilization, the state will reimburse 6% of the loan interest rate. Educational incentives are also being introduced: the opportunity to take university entrance exams directly at military units, interest-free student loans for those entering universities after service, and reimbursement of the costs of obtaining international language certificates. This approach reflects the current trend of developing "smart forces," in which the country's defenders are also qualified specialists in demand in the civilian sector.

In this way, the army is organically integrated into the civil society system, providing young people with real tools for personal and professional success.

For this model to function effectively, a solid social foundation is essential. Therefore, an unprecedented strengthening of social protection for military personnel has become a logical continuation of the reforms. The decisions to double officers' length-of-service bonuses and pay veterans pensions equal to 100% of their pay are, in my view, a strategic investment in the prestige of military service. Additionally, a 10% increase in pay for privates and contract sergeants is envisaged, as well as a 20% increase in the salaries of civilian defense personnel this year and a further 50% increase next year.

The President clearly demonstrates that the state takes full responsibility for the well-being of those who defend the Motherland, thereby raising the prestige of military service and strengthening the principle of unity between the people and the army.

The final element of this comprehensive strategy is achieving profound technological self-sufficiency. The modernization of the national defense-industrial complex, the creation of domestic military technology parks, and the development of unmanned systems production are aimed at minimizing external dependence. A visit to the Chirchik Aircraft Plant and defense technology parks clearly demonstrates that Uzbekistan is focusing on localization, a service economy, and the development of its own industrial base. The creation of a regional hub for Airbus equipment maintenance is not only a matter of prestige but also a practical step toward technological independence and integration into global production chains.

All this strengthens state sovereignty, enabling the effective protection of national interests by relying on its own innovative potential and competencies. At the same time, the military is becoming a driver of innovative development: technologies developed for defense purposes inevitably find application in civilian sectors.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the announced initiatives mark a definitive departure from outdated models. Essentially, we are witnessing the emergence of a new model of statehood, one in which high-tech sovereignty, intellectual capital, and social justice are integrated into a single strategy.

A highly mobile, technologically advanced army is being created, capable of effectively countering hybrid threats in the changing nature of warfare. The army serves not only as a shield for the state but also as a driver of education, the economy, and social mobility—a modern, pragmatic, and deeply national approach to development and security in the new global reality.

Dunyo IA

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani on September 30.

The sides considered topical issues of further expansion of strategic cooperation with the World Bank Group and support of this leading international financial institution to the ongoing reform program in New Uzbekistan.

At the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Antonella Bassani conveyed to the head of our state sincere greetings and best wishes of World Bank President Ajay Bangui.

During the conversation, the current high level and fruitful nature of bilateral cooperation were noted with deep satisfaction.

In recent years, our country has become one of the largest partners of the Bank - the portfolio of projects has increased several times and now exceeds 12 billion dollars.

The World Bank supports the implementation of important reforms aimed at ensuring the sustainability of economic and social sectors. Since July this year, the Bank's regional office has been operating in Tashkent.

Such areas as poverty reduction, transformation of state-owned enterprises and banks, decarbonization, support for WTO accession and others have been identified as priorities for further expansion of the partnership.

Special attention was paid to the programs of urbanization and integrated development of regions, modernization of energy and irrigation infrastructure, support to the private sector.

There was also an exchange of views on the promotion of regional projects.

Issues of practical implementation of agreements at the highest level and promotion of investment projects were at the center of attention during the telephone conversation held on December 17 between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Head of our state warmly congratulated the Amir of Qatar on the national holiday - Foundation Day, wishing him health, well-being and success, as well as peace and prosperity to the friendly Qatari people.

Current matters of further expansion of multifaceted cooperation and strengthening of strategic partnership between our countries were discussed.

The results of active contacts and exchanges were positively assessed. In November this year, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and business forum were successfully held in Doha. In October, the Qatar Culture Week events were successfully organized in Tashkent.

With the participation of leading Qatari companies, investment projects are being implemented in the field of energy, development of transport and tourism infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and other priority areas.

There is a regular direct flight service between the capitals, which facilitates the growth of mutual tourist flow.

During the conversation, the heads of state paid particular attention to the schedule of upcoming events in 2025, including the second dialogue summit “Central Asia - Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf”.

Exchange of views on topical issues on the international agenda also took place.

The strategic convergence between Turkiye and Central Asian states –driven by shared historical and cultural heritage alongside mutually reinforcing economic interests – is cultivating a novel architectural framework for regional interconnectedness. Through multilateral formats and bilateral initiatives, these actors have been establishing a durable platform for cooperation across trade, energy, transportation, and the “green” economy, transforming geographical proximity into a long-term factor of stability and collective development.

Amidst the diversification of Central Asian countries’ foreign policy vectors and the Turkish diplomacy’s increasing emphasis on the Eurasian dimension, this partnership has been acquiring a systemic character that goes beyond specific projects, thereby shaping a sustainable architecture of regional interconnectedness.

Political Foundations of Institutionalizing the Partnership

The core instrument facilitating political engagement is the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which has evolved from a cultural and educational association into a regional a center of attraction spanning from Central Asia to the Caucasus and Europe. Regular summit meetings of OTS leaders exemplify a transition to a pragmatic cooperation phase. Particular significance is attributed to Uzbekistan and its President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has initiated to deepen collaboration within the organization.

At the October 2025 OTS summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, the Uzbek leader proposed to craft OTS’s Strategy of Development 2030, including the establishment of a Permanent Council for economic partnership headquartered in Tashkent. These initiatives aim to coordinate economic projects, support business initiatives, and enhance the efficiency of interaction – underscoring Uzbekistan’s aspiration to become a regional hub of integration and a platform for sustainable development.

Simultaneously, Turkiye is intensifying its engagement within other multilateral structures relevant to Central Asia, such as Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where Ankara, holding the status of a partner and strives for full membership. This multi-format engagement allows for flexible adaptation of the agenda to specific priorities – from confidence-building measures in security to the coordination of transport corridors.

On January 20 2026, a meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group took place, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Turkiye, confirming mutual readiness to deepen coordination within the UN, OSCE, OIC, and ECO, and to support each other’s candidacies in international organizations. This approach transforms bilateral relations into a component of a broader global diplomatic strategy, where support on the international stage becomes a shared interest.

Economic Dimension: From Trade to Strategic Investments

Since 2018, the bilateral trade volume between Central Asia and Ankara has more than doubled – from 6 billion to14.5 billion in 2025. In the long-term Turkiye has set an ambitious target of reaching $30 billion in bilateral trade with Central Asian region.

The volume of Turkish investments exhibits an even more remarkable trend. From 2016 to 2024, Turkish investments in the region increased 2.5 times – from 1.1 billion to3 billion – significantly surpassing the overall growth of Turkish investments in Eurasia (34%) during the same period. Central Asia accounts for 24% of Turkiye’s total accumulated investments in Eurasia. The number of Turkish companies operating in the region increased from 4,000 in 2016 to over 7,000 in 2025. Turkiye has become  Uzbekistan’s third-largest investor (after China and Russia), with more than 2,000 enterprises, including 438 joint ventures.

Turkish business is gradually shifting from small-scale operations to implementing large-scale infrastructure projects across construction, telecommunications, textiles, and agribusiness sectors. Framework documents such as the “OTS Strategy-2026” and the “OTS Strategy-2040,” approved within the OTS, envisage creating a unified economic space –including a common energy grid and a regional development bank. Uzbekistan’s initiatives to expand the activities of the Turkic Investment Fund and the adoption of the “OTS’s Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Economy” indicate a transition towards a high-tech collaboration agenda.

Energy Interdependence: From Hydrocarbons to “Green” Transformation

Central Asia possesses significant hydrocarbon reserves: Kazakhstan holds approximately 30 billion barrels of oil; Turkmenistan ranks fifth globally in natural gas reserves; Uzbekistan has sizable, largely undeveloped deposits. Correspondingly, Turkiye aims to become an energy hub, providing Central Asia with direct access to the European market amid EU’s decarbonization efforts and reduced reliance on Russian supplies.

The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, initially intended for Azerbaijani oil, has evolved into the Trans-Caspian export route. Kazakhstan has been exporting oil through this corridor since 2008, and Turkmenistan since 2010.

In addition, negotiations are underway concerning the export of Turkmen gas via the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), with plans to double its capacity from 16 to 32 billion cubic meters.

Simultaneously, the countries are actively transitioning to renewable energy sources. In Uzbekistan, the Turkish conglomerate “Cengiz” has completed construction of two power plants totaling 460 MW, with additional facilities exceeding 500 MW under construction in Jizzakh. According to estimates from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan possess immense potential not only for domestic green energy production but also for export.

The culmination of these efforts is exemplified by the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor project – an initiative under the Green Corridor Alliance, a joint Kazakh-Uzbek-Azerbaijani enterprise, with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. It aims to connect the electricity grids of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with Azerbaijan across the Caspian Sea for subsequent export to Turkiye and Europe. An agreement on strategic partnership for this project was signed at COP29 in Baku in 2024.

The Central Corridor: An Artery of Development

The Trans-Caspian route (the Middle Corridor) has gained strategic importance as an alternative land corridor connecting China with Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Turkiye. Forecasts suggest that freight volumes along this route could double by 2030, heightening economic interdependence and boosting its geopolitical relevance.

Uzbekistan actively supports the reinforcement of the Central Corridor, viewing it as a core factor for sustainable regional economic development. The infrastructural interdependence created by this project fosters long-term stability among the countries of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Turkiye, transforming transport cooperation into a tool for regional security enhancement.

Cultural and Humanitarian Dimension: The Foundation of Sustainable Partnership

Historical and cultural links rooted in a common Turkic heritage continue to underpin modern cooperation. The parties are steadily expanding educational programs within the “Turkic World” concept. Several universities operate across Central Asia, including the International University of Turkic States and the Turkish University of Economics and Technology in Uzbekistan. Special attention is given to increasing scholarships for Uzbek students within the “Türkiye Bursları” program and developing joint scholarship initiatives.

Such exchanges in science and culture foster durable horizontal ties among the citizens of Turkiye and Central Asian countries. An increasingly important element is digital cooperation: joint projects in artificial intelligence, digital governance, and creative industries open new avenues for engagement. The expansion of tourism flows and media exchanges also contribute to forming a unified informational and communicational space which is particularly relevant amid the global competition in the modern media environment of information manipulation.

Conclusion

Overall, the partnership between Central Asia and Turkiye reflects a transition from ad hoc interactions to a systematic model of cooperation based on resource, infrastructural, and strategic complementarity. Turkiye gains access to energy resources and transit routes, strengthening its status as an Eurasian hub. In turn, Central Asian states diversify their foreign policy and economic ties, increasing their autonomy and competitiveness.

The future prospects of this partnership hinge on three core vectors: first, deepening economic integration through the OTS and bilateral agreements; second, jointly implementing cross-border infrastructure projects in energy and transportation; third, advancing the “green” and digital agendas as foundations for sustainable development. Achieving these objectives requires ongoing dialogue, regulatory harmonization, and trust-building measures, but it already clear that the Central Asia–Turkiye partnership forms a robust platform for regional stability and collective prosperity in a multipolar world.

Dilorom MAMATKULOVA,

Leading research fellow of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On August 13, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with a presentation on measures to develop artificial intelligence technologies and IT startups.

Information technologies are developing rapidly in our country and are being introduced into all spheres. As a result, the volume of digital services exceeded 21 trillion soums only in the past period of this year, and by the end of the year it is expected to reach 43 trillion soums. Export of services of the sphere amounted to 367 million dollars. The number of IT park residents increased by 577 and exceeded 2 thousand. The number of young people working in them reached 32 thousand.

This year, more than 100 digitalization projects are being implemented in health care, energy, transport, education, agriculture, water management, construction and others.

Times are changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are penetrating into all spheres. A number of projects have also been launched in this direction in our country.

For example, “My ID” and “UzFace” solutions have been implemented in more than 70 organizations, banks, marketplaces and payment systems, and the possibility of remote biometric identification of 10 million users has been created. “Uzbekcosmos” with the help of artificial intelligence identified about 43 thousand cases of illegal use of subsoil and unauthorized construction.

The presentation considered measures to develop artificial intelligence technologies in such areas as health care, agriculture, banking, tax, customs.

It was noted that first of all it is necessary to create a legislative base for artificial intelligence. The task was set to develop a strategy for the introduction of artificial intelligence and a two-year program of projects. The Center for Artificial Intelligence Technologies was assigned to be created.

In particular, the need to expand the application of artificial intelligence in banking and finance, training of specialized personnel and professional development of employees was emphasized.

At present, the personnel on artificial intelligence is trained in 4 universities. There is a need for 600 specialists in big data processing and language models. This number will increase many times in the coming years. Taking this into account, the importance of training specialists corresponding to the needs in terms of industries was emphasized.

All leading IT companies of the world started their activities from a startup. We are also taking the first steps in this direction. Last year, the volume of venture investments attracted in such projects amounted to 134 million dollars.

The head of state emphasized that it is time to create broad conditions for venture investments to finance startup projects. In this regard, instructions have been given to develop the startup ecosystem and introduce venture capital financing mechanisms.

Uzbekistan — is a country of irreversible, rapid reforms. One of the priorities of the development strategy of the New Uzbekistan is the policy of achieving gender equality in the country.

Under the "Uzbekistan-2030" development strategy, large-scale measures are being implemented to increase women's political, social and economic activity, protect mothers and children, promote gender equality and safeguard women's rights and interests.

Thanks to the political will of the leadership of Uzbekistan, the Gender Strategy of Uzbekistan until 2030 was developed, the laws “On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for women and men”, “On protection from oppression and violence” were adopted, as well as legislative norms on mandatory gender expertise of all regulations and introduction of gender audit. Thus, a mechanism has been introduced to study the state of the gender approach in all government organizations and to develop measures to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men by the Federation of Trade Unions as public control. Liability for domestic violence has been strengthened. Over the past 5 years, more than 40 Presidential decrees and Resolutions have been adopted aimed at ensuring gender equality. Meanwhile, legislation for women is being improved and opportunities are expanding. In 2023, the Electoral Code of Uzbekistan established provisions that the number of women when nominated from political parties to representative bodies of power should be at least 40% of the total number of nominated candidates for deputies and in the proportional election system, nominate at least two women out of each five candidates for parliament. Since 2019, a Gender Commission on increasing the role of women in society, gender equality and family has been created in the Senate. The Committee for Women and Family Affairs was newly created, more than 9 thousand positions were established, up to mahallas, specifically dealing with issues of women and family throughout the country and at all levels, rehabilitation centers began to operate to provide assistance to women victims of violence.

Systemic measures taken at the initiative of the head of state, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in order to reduce poverty, establish “women’s notebooks”, reduce unemployment among women and support women’s entrepreneurship, preferential loans for women have yielded tangible results throughout the country. A number of restrictions on women’s occupation and choice of professions were lifted. Advisory councils on gender issues were created in all ministries and departments. As a result, the number of women in parliament reached 33%, in business their number doubled and reached 25%, in political parties 44%, in higher education 40%. In 2023 alone, more than 13,3 billion soums of loans were allocated for the implementation of over 279 thousand women’s business projects, and about 300 billion soums of subsidies were provided to almost 57 thousand women. Based on the “Women's Notebooks” system, the problems of 994 thousand women were solved, the state allocated 1 trillion 234 million soums for these purposes.

As a result of studying the situation of women in mahallas, targeted assistance was provided to more than 690 thousand families in need of social protection.

In 2024, it is planned to provide 8 thousand women and girls included in the “Youth Notebook” with subsidies to start their own business and purchase equipment, and 10 thousand with preferential loans. It is planned to launch a “Business Marathon” project for 50 thousand young women with the participation of qualified specialists to provide practical assistance in setting up a business.

In the field of education, great attention is also paid to gender equality. The country has taken a number of effective measures to protect women and girls; a gender approach is being introduced into curricula and teaching methods, as well as in STEM education, especially in rural areas. Currently, more than half of the 1 million 300 thousand students, i.e. 653 thousand, are girls. In the master's program, the share of girls is 60% of master's students. The state encourages and fully pays for the contracts of women and girls studying for a master's degree from the state budget. In 2023-24 1,914 girls from needy families were accepted to study at universities using additional government grants. 181,500 girls received preferential educational loans. At the expense of local budgets, the contract amount of more than 2 thousand students from families in need of social protection, orphans or students deprived of parental care was covered for 14 billion soums.

Improving the opportunities and conditions for the education of women and girls in the country gave impetus to an increase in interest in mastering modern knowledge and professions, for example, within the framework of the educational project “One Million Programmers”, 47% were girls. Creating favorable conditions for women in education gives real results in unlocking their potential. Over the past seven years, more than 5 thousand women have been awarded the academic titles of Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Science. More than 14 thousand women are conducting their research at universities in Uzbekistan.

Achieving gender equality — is a global task on the agenda of universal international organizations such as the UN and other regional structures. Uzbekistan is actively developing international cooperation in this area. As a party to the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the 1995 Beijing Declaration of the Platform for Action, the country regularly submits national reports to the Committee and develops national action plans.

In recent years, great importance has been attached to cooperation in the field of gender equality with the countries of Central Asia. The Forums of Women Leaders of Central Asia and the Asian Women's Forum in 2024 were successfully held, where representatives of more than 40 countries and international organizations participated.

Lola Saidova, Doctor of Law, Professor,

Chief Researcher of the ISRS under the

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Numerous scholars and studies have confirmed the connection between the quality of education and the well-being of society. The Nobel Prize winning Gary Becker was one of the first to inquire into the impact of education on economic growth and social development. His research has shown that investing in education can improve productivity and thus economic growth.

According to experts from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the high level of education, GDP and economic development serve to augment the average life expectancy and improve public health. One should note that stepping up the duration of education by 1 year can increase GDP by 3-6 percent.

Education is considered a crucial issue for Uzbekistan, 60% of the population of whose is young people under the age of 30, with a population increase of 700 thousand a year.

Up until recently, obtaining higher education was the dream of millions of Uzbek youth. In 2016, enrollment in higher education was only 9 percent of all the school graduates, and the number of higher education institutions was 69 (with 9 private). Due to a lack of student loans to finance higher education and support systems for vulnerable segments of the population, many were unable to study failing to pay tuition fees.

There were also problems for youth in getting onboard the higher education. Those willing to obtain one were able to apply only to one institution a year. And if they did not score enough in the admission exams, they had to wait until the next year to reapply to that or another university.

In addition, such factors as taking faculty and students to forced seasonal agricultural work used to have a grave negative impact on the quality of education. So did the insufficient material incentives for the teaching staff due to the extremely low wages.

After the election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as President of the country in 2016, the system of admission to higher education institutions started to be revised, with overall systemic transformation underway, especially when it came to the quality of education.

First, the organizational and legal framework of the industry has been revised. In particular, the 2030 Concept for Higher Education Development in the Republic of Uzbekistan was approved in 2019 by the corresponding presidential decree.

In 2020, the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly, the national parliament) passed the Education law in a new edition. In accordance with it, the system opened up to market mechanisms, priority was afforded to raising the scale and quality of education to a new level, to studying advanced foreign practices and establishing broad international connections.

Apart from that, adopted in 2023, the new edition of the Constitution introduced a number of new norms on the protection of the honor and dignity of teachers, government concern for their social and material well-being. The upgraded Basic Law also granted the higher education institutions the right to academic self-government, freedom in scientific research and teaching methodologies and approaches.

Second, to be sure, education advancement requires allocation of large sums from the state budget to this area. According to research, a 1% increase in education spending will increase GDP by 0.35%. It is for this reason that the amount of funds allocated from the public budget for the maintenance and development of educational institutions in Uzbekistan has been steadily growing.

In 2023, spending on education accounted for 44 percent of total social expenditures, reaching 61.2 trillion soums.

The rapid growth in the number of public and private universities, as well as branches of foreign ones, and the introduction of market mechanisms in this area have created the basis for expanding the market in educational services. Today there are 210 universities in the country, almost half of them are private (67) and foreign universities (29).

Crucially, the youth are now free to choose. A healthy competitive environment has begun to emerge among the institutions offering higher education. Branches of prestigious foreign universities like Westminster (UK), Webster (US), Management Development Institute of Singapore, Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy) have an important role to play in the implementation of advanced standards in higher education by inviting state-of-the-art certified faculty, making a good use of the latest teaching technologies, innovations and international best practices.

As a result of the enhancement of the higher education market in Uzbekistan, it became possible to boost the coverage in the system from 9 percent of school graduates enrolled in 2016 to 42 percent in 2023. And the launch of correspondence and evening studies at universities has contributed to a sharp increase in the proportion of students over 24 years of age. The total number of university students now exceeds 1.3 million.

Starting from 2019, applicants have been given the opportunity to simultaneously submit documents to several universities and choose an educational institution based on the results of entrance exams and their preferences. This year, building on a relevant presidential decree, exams for admission to universities will take place under the principle “test first, then choose”.

Uzbekistan has created a unique system that provides opportunities to obtain higher education for people in need of social protection and people with disabilities. In particular, the distribution of admission quotas was approved on the basis of an additional two percent state scholarship for persons with disabilities and one percent for graduates of Mehribonlik (Mercy homes, orphanages), children’s villages and family homes in the context of higher educational institutions and forms of education.

It will not be an exaggeration to say that changing society by attracting girls to higher education is a unique path for Uzbekistan. Here one can recall a popular wisdom that if you educate a girl, you educate the whole nation. In order to ensure gender equality, as well as the consistent implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, starting from the 2022-2023 academic year, new educational loans are allocated on preferential terms (interest-free) for training girls and women. As a result, in 2023, interest-free educational loans in the amount of 1,548.6 billion soums were allocated to about 137.4 thousand students.

A procedure has also been established for reimbursement of tuition fees for girls studying for graduate degree at universities. During this time, 20,260 women took a good advantage of this opportunity.

Special emphasis is placed on the issues of training youth from Uzbekistan in prestigious foreign universities. In particular, the amount of funds allocated from the state budget to the El-Yurt Umidi (Hope of the Nation) Foundation for the training of talented youth abroad has been growing. If 200 billion soums were allocated to this fund in 2022, in 2024 the amount reached 500 billion soums. Thanks to the foundation, more than 1,000 young people have received education in respected higher education institutions abroad and today work in various fields. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, students from Uzbekistan ranked fifth in the world in the number of students studying abroad in 2021. The number exceeded 110 thousand. This is also clear evidence of how young people in this country are thirsty for knowledge.

The Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy urges to bringing the level of youth enrollment in higher education to no less than 50 percent, including in at least 10 higher educational institutions in the top 1,000 ranking of the most prestigious universities, and making the way for the country into the top 50 nations by 2030 in the Global Innovation Index.

As a result of reforms over the past period, two universities of Uzbekistan for the first time entered the top 1,000 higher education institutions in the world, compiled by the British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” (TIIAME) was named 547^th in the rating, while the Mirzo Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan secured the 781-790th positions.

The National Research University TIIAME was among the 300 best higher education institutions in the world and among the top three universities in Central Asia in terms of “Academic reputation”, and the National University of Uzbekistan was in the top 200 in terms of “Share of foreign teachers” and took second place among universities in the region.

In addition, 53 higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan were noted in the “THE Impact Rankings” published by the Times Higher Education agency for 2024. Seven of them ended up in the top 1,000. In the ranking, the Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature came 10th in the world in terms of gender equality.

In short, well aware of the truism that investing into education means investing into your future.

Nodir Tilavoldiev,
Member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis
Republic of Uzbekistan

Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkiye is carried out within the framework of signed bilateral agreements and established intergovernmental mechanisms, and is supported by regular high-level contacts. In addition, Uzbekistan and Turkiye cooperate within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

In 2023, the President of the Republic of Turkiye paid an official visit to Uzbekistan, during which the Uzbekistan–Turkiye Business Forum was held. As a result of the visit, a substantial package of intergovernmental and commercial agreements was signed, covering key sectors of the economy with a total value of around $10 bn.

In June 2024, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan paid an official visit to Turkiye. During the visit, a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held, resulting in the signing of an important package of agreements, protocols, and roadmaps aimed at further expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Turkiye operates under a most-favoured-nation regime, and a Preferential Trade Agreement has also been signed.

Turkiye is among Uzbekistan’s leading trade and economic partners, ranking 4th in terms of total trade turnover and imports, and 5th in terms of Uzbekistan’s exports.

In 2025, Turkiye’s share in Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover amounted to 3.7%, including 3.4% of exports and 4.0% of imports.

Dynamics of Bilateral Trade

Over the period 2017–2025, bilateral trade between the two countries increased by 1.9 times and reached $3.0 bn by the end of 2025. Exports to Turkiye grew by 1.3 times to $1.1 bn, while imports from Turkiye increased by 2.8 times to $1.9 bn.

At the same time, annual growth rates of imports from Turkiye consistently exceeded export growth rates, resulting in a widening trade deficit to –$751.6 mn.

Uzbekistan’s exports to Turkiye in 2025 comprised the following categories: industrial goods (copper products, yarn, etc.) amounting to $511.4 mn (45%); miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly precious metal products) at $152.3 mn (13.4%); chemical products (polymers, fertilizers, etc.) at $124.3 mn (11%); machinery and transport equipment at $80.1 mn (7%); food products (dried fruits and nuts) at $63.0 mn (5.5%); petroleum products (gasoline, gas oil) at $36.6 mn (3.2%); non-food raw materials at $18.0 mn (1.6%); as well as services, primarily transport services, at $149.9 mn (13.2%).

Imports from Turkiye in 2025 were dominated by the following categories: machinery and transport equipment at $674.6 mn (35.7%); chemical products at $408.9 mn (21.7%); industrial goods at $390.2 mn (20.7%); miscellaneous manufactured articles at $136.2 mn (7.2%); food products at $94.6 mn (5.0%); petroleum products (lubricating oils) at $30.2 mn (1.6%); non-food raw materials at $30.1 mn (1.6%); and services at $117.4 mn (6.2%).

Investment Cooperation

The two countries have signed an Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments. As of 1 January 2026, 2,137 enterprises with Turkish capital operate in Uzbekistan, accounting for 11.8% of all active enterprises with foreign investment. Of these, 496 are joint ventures and 1,641 are wholly owned by Turkish investors.

Total direct investments and loans from Turkiye to Uzbekistan’s economy over 2017–2025 amounted to $9.0 bn, including $2.6 bn attracted in 2025 alone.

Turkish capital continues to expand its presence in Uzbekistan, primarily in priority sectors such as energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

In particular, investments in the power sector are linked to the construction by the Turkish company Cengiz Enerji of a 240 MW thermal power plant in Tashkent Region and a similar 220 MW plant in Syrdarya Region.

Prospective Areas of Economic Cooperation

An analysis of Turkiye’s import structure indicates opportunities to increase Uzbekistan’s exports to Turkiye, particularly in product categories that Uzbekistan already supplies to global markets. These include polymers (Turkiye’s imports amounting to $2.8 bn), copper wire ($1.4 bn), fertilizers ($1.1 bn), legumes ($1.0 bn), zinc ($857 mn), copper tubes ($360 mn), textile products, particularly T-shirts and undershirts ($373 mn), knitted fabrics ($158 mn) and other manufactured goods.

Promising areas for cooperative engagement between Uzbekistan and Turkiye include manufacturing industries – especially textiles, electrical engineering, and machinery – chemical industry, agriculture, healthcare, education, as well as projects aimed at preserving and promoting cultural heritage. There are also prospects for joint infrastructure projects, including the construction of water treatment facilities.

In agriculture, particular attention is paid to the selection and cultivation of domestic pistachio varieties and the development of pistachio farming. Agreements have been reached on implementing joint research projects focused on cultivation techniques and adaptation.

A significant emphasis is placed on expanding cooperation in education, including the involvement of Turkish lecturers and specialized professionals in educational initiatives in Uzbekistan, experience exchange, and human capital development.

At the same time, areas of cooperation in healthcare are being discussed, focusing on the development of primary healthcare, the introduction of medical insurance systems, sector digitalization, improvement of service quality, and modernization of the pharmaceutical industry.

Tourism has been identified as a separate and promising area of cooperation. Currently, 12 hotels in Uzbekistan operate with the participation of Turkish partners, along with more than 100 joint restaurants, reflecting sustained interest by Turkish businesses in the country’s tourism sector.

In 2025–2026, with the support of Turkish investors, 11 hotel projects with a total value of $167.9 mn are planned in Bukhara, Samarkand, Jizzakh, Fergana, and Tashkent regions.

Transport connectivity is also expanding significantly. The number of weekly flights between Uzbekistan and Turkiye has increased from 62 in 2023 to 106 at present, creating additional conditions for the growth of mutual tourist flows and the expansion of travel routes.

A key initiative in tourism is the “Million + Million” programme, aimed at attracting at least one million tourists to each country. The programme envisages a further increase in flight frequency and the expansion of tourist routes between Uzbekistan and Turkiye.

Conclusion

In recent years, there has been steady growth in bilateral trade, investment volumes, the number of enterprises with Turkish capital, and the breadth of economic cooperation.

At the same time, Uzbekistan’s exports to Turkiye are still dominated by raw materials and intermediate goods used in Turkiye’s industrial sectors. Against this background, the key task for the coming years is to move from a “raw materials–finished goods” trade model toward the formation of joint production chains with higher value added.

In this context, Turkiye can play a role for Uzbekistan not only as one of its principal trading partners, but also as a contributor to Uzbekistan’s industrial development and to the expansion of its participation in global value chains.

Edvard Romanov
Center for Economic Research and Reforms

In the modern world, freedom of speech and information is a key element of a democratic society.

Uzbekistan is actively moving towards strengthening the constitutional rights of citizens in this important area, striving to create favorable conditions for the free exchange of information and development of the information society.

The country remains firmly committed to further improving the system of ensuring human rights, freedoms and legitimate interests. The efforts made by the country's leadership in this direction are holistic, sustainable and irreversible.

The following key aspects of state policy in areas of obtaining and disseminating information:

Firstly, creating conditions for free expression of opinions, independent and safe work of the media. Freedom of speech and press are fundamental principles of a democratic society. Uzbekistan strives to ensure pluralism of opinions and prevent any form of censorship, which contributes to the development of an open and informed society.

For this purpose, the necessary legal frameworks have been formed and are being improved in accordance with international standards and recommendations. To date, the country has adopted more than 10 relevant laws, among them - “On guarantees and freedom of access to information”, “On the openness of the activities of public authorities and management”, “On the media”, “On the principles and guarantees of freedom of information” , “On the protection of the professional activities of a journalist”, “On informatization”, etc.

Under Uzbek legislation, journalists are guaranteed personal inviolability in the performance of their professional duties and may not be prosecuted for publishing critical material.

In addition, to further liberalise media activities and ensure the rights of journalists, in 2018, the legislation clarified the legal status of journalists and guarantees of freedom of journalistic activity, as well as the procedure for accreditation of foreign media representatives in the country in accordance with modern requirements.

Mechanisms have also been established for government support of the mass media (provision of privileges on taxes, other compulsory payments and tariffs, preferences, provision of government subsidies, grants and social orders, as well as social support for editorial staff).

The consistent expansion of conditions and opportunities for media outlets is also reflected in their quantitative characteristics. From 2016 to date, their total number has increased by 49 per cent, reaching 2,200. At the same time, the total share of non-state media in the country is over 60%. Alongside traditional media, online publications are also developing rapidly, the number of which has reached 716, and their audience is steadily growing.

It is important to note that in 2023, a number of issues of ensuring freedom of information were enshrined at the level of the country’s Basic Law. Thus, the new version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted at a national referendum, outlines guarantees for the state to ensure free activity of the media, as well as responsibility for interference in the work of the media.

Another main difference of the new version of the Constitution in terms of freedom of information is the specification of the legal conditions under which restrictions on the search, receipt, use and dissemination of information can be introduced.

Similar provisions were identified in the Basic Law earlier, but were not detailed, which could lead to ambiguous interpretation and be used to unjustifiably restrict the rights of citizens.

The 2023 amendments establish that restrictions can only be imposed on certain grounds and only to the extent necessary. This represents a significant step forward in ensuring that restrictions on the right to seek, receive and disseminate information are transparent, legal and proportionate. These measures help strengthen the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens and increase public confidence in government institutions.

A new provision has also been introduced into the country's Constitution guaranteeing free access to the Internet. Thus, the state at the constitutional level confirms its obligations to create all the necessary conditions for this, including in the context of supporting the processes of active digital transformation of the country and expanding the range of online services provided to the population.

Secondly, ensuring unhindered and equal access to information, including strengthening the accountability of government bodies to society. This includes expanding access to data on the work of government agencies and socially significant information in general. Availability of information allows citizens to be better informed, make informed decisions and actively participate in public life.

Openness and transparency in the activities of government agencies remain one of the key indicators of the effectiveness of the system of public control, ensuring continuous dialogue between the state and citizens, minimizing bureaucracy and combating corruption. It is the full implementation of this aspect that will reflect the principle laid down by the Head of State: “It is not the people who serve the state bodies, but the state bodies should serve the people”.

The work carried out by the Republic of Uzbekistan in this regard is becoming increasingly systematic. Thus, in addition to the current Law on Openness in the Activities of State Authorities and Government Bodies, a number of normative acts have been adopted since 2018 and up to the present time aimed at radically improving the work of the press services of State bodies and raising the status of press secretaries to the level of deputy head of department.

Increased requirements were set for the heads and employees of information services of state bodies, including timely and comprehensive coverage of key events and decisions within the work of their departments, as well as prompt response to requests from journalists and the public.

At present, the combined staff of the press services of ministries and departments includes 778 press secretaries and more than 500 employees.

In addition, the Agency of Information and Mass Communications, together with the press secretaries of government agencies, has created a mechanism for promptly responding to citizens' appeals, as well as critical and widely discussed news items in the media. As part of this work, more than 10,000 responses and expert opinions on the identified materials were published in the media, social networks and messengers.

The new version of the Constitution also obliges public bodies to act in a transparent and open manner. This means that all significant decisions and actions of public institutions must be publicly justified and documented. Authorities are obliged to publish regular reports on their activities and inform the public about important initiatives and programmes.

In 2021, in accordance with the Presidential decree, the possibilities of public control over the activities of government agencies were expanded. A list of socially significant information to be published as open data was approved, government bodies and organizations developing data, as well as the procedure for their publication were clearly defined.

The practice of determining indicators of openness and assessing it based on advanced international standards has been successfully introduced. The corresponding national Openness Indexes were published for 2022 and 2023.

At the same time, in 2022, liability was established for violating the legislation on the openness of the activities of public authorities and management, including for non-disclosure of socially significant information, failure to comply with the deadline and procedure for publication, or falsification of information.

Thirdly, protecting the rights of citizens to privacy and personal data. In the era of digital technology and big data, government policy is aimed at ensuring the security of citizens' personal information and preventing its misuse. This includes the development and implementation of legal regulations and technical solutions to protect personal data.

These issues are regulated by the relevant Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Personal Data” dated July 2, 2019. In particular, it regulates the need to ensure the collection, systematization and storage of personal data of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the country in order to suppress the risks and threats of their leakage and misuse.

At the same time, it should be noted that the new version of the Constitution also enshrines the right to protection of personal data as a personal right of the individual. Consequently, their processing is allowed only with the consent of the individual. From now on, the Basic Law creates a direct possibility for citizens to demand correction of inaccurate data and destruction of data collected illegally or no longer having legal grounds, i.e. to realise the established international practice of the so-called ‘right to be forgotten’.

Such amendments are designed to promote the protection of privacy, increase trust in data processing systems, reduce risks and abuse, develop the digital economy and comply with international standards. Together, these measures create the conditions for a more transparent, secure and sustainable society in the digital age.

At the same time, the development of the population's information literacy remains an important factor in the formation of an effective and self-regulated national media environment against the background of various global challenges. The need to meet the needs of citizens for quality content and improve critical thinking skills has been repeatedly emphasised by the President of Uzbekistan.

The relevance of this task is confirmed by the fact that disinformation is recognised as one of the main short-term global threats, according to an expert report by the World Economic Forum. In addition, a long-term study of media consumption in Central Asia, conducted by the United States Agency for International Development and the non-governmental organisation Internews, shows an increase in the share of citizens in Uzbekistan who lack basic skills in working with information on the Internet (from 3% in 2021 to 25% in 2023).

Uzbekistan continue the country's course of strengthening openness and to develop fruitful and constructive international co-operation in the area of freedom of speech and the press with a view to turning the media into a real ‘fourth estate’. This will certainly create the necessary conditions for the creation of an informed, safe and progressive society ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

           Aziz Yengalychev,

  Chief Researcher at the Institute for Strategic and Regional studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

In today's New Uzbekistan, a lot of attention is paid to the development of reading culture and book publishing. As the head of our state says, “There will be no break in education,” in every meeting with representatives of the intellectuals, culture, literature and art, in every historical speech that sounded like an appeal to our people, he paid             special attention to the issue of studying and gaining knowledge about the fundamentals world civilization, the achievements of modern world science. He never gets tired of emphasizing the words "knowledge, knowledge, knowledge" over and over again.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev: "Each country in the world, each nation is powerful primarily with its intellectual potential and high spirituality. It is not for nothing that he said that the source of such mighty power is the great discovery of human thinking - books and readers.

Decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated January 12, 2017 "On the establishment of a commission on the development of the system of printing and distribution of book products, the promotion of book reading and reading culture", The decision of September 13, 2017 "On the program of comprehensive measures to develop the system of publication and distribution of book products, increase and promote book reading and reading culture" together with the decision “On additional measures for the further development of the publishing and printing industry”, It is well known that great work has been done on the decisions "On further improvement of information-library services to the residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan".

On December 14, 2020, the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On approval of the national program for the development and support of reading culture in 2020-2025" was adopted.

The processes of implementation of this National Program are showing positive results.

The fourth initiative put forward by our President - to raise the spirituality of young people, to widely promote reading among them - serious practical work is being carried out in our country. Young people, especially teenagers and children, are widely participating in reading contests. 

Members of the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan actively participate in events dedicated to book reading and development of reading.The Children's and Adolescent Creative Council operates under the association, master classes are regularly held by well-known poets and writers in all schools, higher and secondary educational institutions of our country.

By the Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan in April-May of this year in order to attract students and pupils of all higher educational institutions and general education schools in our country to reading books, to raise the level of artistic literacy and educate them in the spirit of patriotism and concern for the future of our country as part of the “Sharing Enlightenment” project, 156 famous artists held meetings with writers and educational events in 202 higher educational institutions and 606 secondary schools, under their auspices. At these events, 150 works of art were recommended for reading, films and performances were shown.

During 2020-2023, the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan published 403 books in the fields of prose, poetry, playwriting, children's literature, literary studies, and artistic translation. Over the past years, our poets, writers and translators prepared 100-volume "Masterpieces of Russian Literature" and 100-volume "Masterpieces of Turkish Literature" for publication. This great project was supported by the Head of State, published and distributed to the regions.

At this point, it should be noted that the 16-volume set of books entitled "Masterpieces of Karakalpak Literature" was prepared for publication and submitted to the press by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the "Book campaign" project, in the first quarter of 2023, 4,679 books were sent to higher education institutions, general education schools, 14,800 books to the provinces, 50 books to the penal colony, 950 to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Spirituality, Information and Library Centers, 500 to the State Security Service, 7,267 to event participants, book authors, 461 to newspapers and creative houses, 300 to Uzbekistan-Kyrgyz Friendship Society, 350 to neighborhoods, 134 to the Office of Muslims, More than 30 thousand 791 books were distributed indiscriminately to Uzbekistan "Veteran" Association of combatants-veterans and disabled people, 500 books to Halq Bank, and 600 books to children's camp. To date, more than 1 million books have been distributed in four years.

At the moment, the 100-volume set of books "Masterpieces of World Children's Literature" is being prepared for publication by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan.

In 2020-2023, the first books of 87 young authors were published in tens of thousands of copies each in the "My first book" project by the Writers' Union of Uzbekistan, and presentation events were held. The books were freely distributed to higher education institutions, general education schools, and military units.

All these are aimed primarily at the development of reading among young people, children and adolescents. Publication of books and promotion of book reading will be continued consistently.

Uzbekistan and Finland possess significant potential to deepen their partnership in the areas of ecology, sustainable natural resource management, and climate change mitigation. Environmental institutions of both countries actively engage through international conferences, forums, and projects supported by international organizations and development banks.

One of the most notable examples of practical cooperation is the joint project between the Agency of Hydrometeorological Service of Uzbekistan, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Valued at USD 2 million, the project aims to strengthen Uzbekistan’s hydrometeorological capacity, train specialists in modern forecasting methods for weather and natural disasters, and enhance climate services and adaptation measures to climate change.

To further expand bilateral cooperation, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan has identified several priority areas that could form the basis for a future Memorandum of Understanding with Finland.

One key area of collaboration could be sustainable forest management. Over 70% of Finland’s territory is covered by forests, which account for 0.5% of global timber reserves. Studying Finland’s experience in public-private partnerships in forestry and its effective mechanisms for conserving forest ecosystems could help Uzbekistan improve its own approaches to developing green zones and protecting natural territories.

Another promising area is circular economy development. Finland was among the first countries to adopt a national “roadmap” for transitioning to circular models of production and consumption. For Uzbekistan — which is currently developing a modern waste management and recycling system — learning from Finland’s sustainable production practices would be an important step toward achieving “green” growth.

Air quality management is also an area of great interest. Finland is recognized as one of the countries with the cleanest air in the world, thanks to its advanced monitoring systems and strict environmental regulations. Adopting Finnish technologies for tracking pollutants and reducing emissions could significantly improve air quality in Uzbekistan’s urban centers.

Particular attention is also given to climate action. Finland aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and its strategies for reducing emissions and adapting to climate challenges could serve as a valuable model for Uzbekistan in implementing its own climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

An important area of focus is scientific and educational cooperation. The Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan is interested in establishing partnerships between Finnish universities and the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University). Academic exchange programs, joint research initiatives and the development of green educational technologies will contribute to training a new generation of environmental and climate specialists in the region.

Cooperation in biodiversity conservation and protected areas management is also of high importance. Finland allocates 13.3% of its territory for these purposes and plans to expand this figure to 30% by 2030. This experience holds great value for Uzbekistan, which is actively implementing a national program to expand its network of reserves and national parks.

The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate of Finland would be a logical step toward strengthening this partnership. Joint initiatives between the two countries will help combine innovation and scientific expertise in pursuit of a shared goal — protecting nature, enhancing climate resilience, and building a sustainable and environmentally secure future.

Anvar Tursunaliyev,

Chief specialist Department of international cooperation

and rankings of the Ministry of Ecology,

Environmental Protection and Climate Change

Despite the 6,000-kilometer distance between Tashkent and Tokyo, the official visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Japan on December 18-20 elevated Uzbek-Japanese relations to a qualitatively new level of expanded strategic partnership for future generations.

Uzbekistan’s relations with Japan have deep historical roots. For centuries, Samarkand served as one of the key centers of the Great Silk Road, while Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, was its eastern gateway. Trade and the exchange of knowledge along the Great Silk Road, including between Uzbekistan and Japan, played a significant role in the development of international commerce and cultural interaction, forming lasting cultural bridges between civilizations. Today, Samarkand and Nara are twin cities.

Since Uzbekistan gained independence, reliable and stable relations of mutually beneficial cooperation have developed between Uzbekistan and Japan. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Japan has been one of Uzbekistan’s key technological and investment partners.

Economic cooperation dynamics

The most dynamic growth in economic cooperation has taken place in recent years, following the launch of comprehensive economic reforms in Uzbekistan. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) play an important role in advancing Uzbek-Japanese economic cooperation.

Cooperation with JICA has, in recent years, reached the level of strategic partnership. The value of the project portfolio has exceeded $8 billion, and additional initiatives worth more than $3 billion are under consideration in areas such as healthcare, energy, transport, education, industry, and other sectors. During the visit, new agreements were signed with JICA concerning the development of economic zones, agriculture, supply of medical equipment, and support for entrepreneurship, as well as the launch of a special economic zone for Japanese investors, to be developed in line with Japanese models and standards.

Cooperation with JBIC is also developing dynamically. Today, the total project portfolio with the bank exceeds $5 billion in sectors such as petrochemicals, energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, and light industry. During the visit, discussions focused on preparing new projects and improving the effectiveness of existing initiatives worth over $10 billion.

Trade relations are also growing dynamically. Between 2017 and 2024, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with Japan more than doubled, increasing from $166.2 million to $388.5 million. In 2024, growth accelerated, rising by 64.1% compared with 2023, from $236.8 million to $388.6 million. More than 90% of imports from Japan consist of machinery and equipment, while Uzbekistan’s exports to Japan are dominated by services and chemical fertilizers, as well as fruit and vegetable products, textiles, radioactive elements, and jet fuel.

Investment cooperation is expanding as well. Over the past eight years, the number of Japanese enterprises operating in Uzbekistan has increased tenfold, while the combined project portfolio has exceeded $20 billion. Leading Japanese companies such as Sojitz, Toyota Tsusho, Sumitomo, Itochu, Kyoto Plaza, Balcom, and Shikoku Electric are actively operating in Uzbekistan, implementing major projects in energy, geology, tourism, infrastructure development, IT, and other sectors.

For example, Sojitz Corporation is implementing projects including the construction of a combined-cycle power plant in Syrdarya region, a multidisciplinary hospital, a new international airport in Tashkent, and a wind power plant. During the visit, support was expressed for the company’s plans to modernize medical clinics and educational facilities, create a transboundary “green” energy corridor, upgrade gas compressor stations, and participate in establishing a special economic zone for Japanese investors.

Sumitomo Corporation is constructing two solar power plants and energy storage systems in Samarkand region, with a similar wind-power-based project also planned in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. During the visit, the President of Uzbekistan proposed adopting a Cooperation Program with the corporation through 2030.

Uzbekistan has longstanding cooperation with ITOCHU Corporation in mechanical engineering, geology, and infrastructure. Long-term agreements have been reached on the export of critical minerals to Japan. During the visit, new areas of cooperation were discussed, including water purification, automotive manufacturing, modernization of air traffic control systems, as well as implementation of public-private partnership projects in the social sphere.

JOGMEC, together with ITOCHU Corporation, is developing uranium deposits in Navoi and Kashkadarya regions. During the visit, plans by these companies to develop precious-metal deposits at promising sites in Uzbekistan were also reviewed and approved.

Negotiations and outcomes of the visit

During the negotiations, the sides discussed further deepening of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan, covering all areas of interstate cooperation. The importance of strengthening existing cooperation formats, including parliamentary friendship groups, economic cooperation committees, and sectoral mechanisms in priority areas, was emphasized.

During the talks between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a number of priority areas for advancing strategic partnership were identified, including green energy and industrial decarbonization, information technology, critical minerals, cooperation in mechanical engineering, modernization of healthcare, and tourism infrastructure.

To implement more than $12 billion worth of new cooperation projects prepared for the visit, the President of Uzbekistan proposed establishing a joint investment platform. Plans were also announced to create a special economic zone in Samarkand region based on Japanese standards and practices, as well as to scale up the “One Village – One Product” program implemented jointly with Japanese partners. It was proposed to hold the first Uzbekistan-Japan Regional Forum in Samarkand next year.

At the meeting between the President of Uzbekistan and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, an agreement was reached to develop an action plan to further strengthen business cooperation with the active involvement of JETRO and the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and NIS (ROTOBO).

A key element of the visit was the President’s meeting with leading representatives of Japanese business. The President emphasized that in recent years cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan has acquired a qualitatively new character. Whereas Japanese companies previously mainly participated as contractors, today they are actively investing in Uzbekistan’s economy, establishing joint ventures, participating in management, transferring technologies, and contributing to human capital development. “As a result of these qualitative shifts, Japan has become one of Uzbekistan’s key economic and technological partners,” the President stressed.

Based on these assessments, priority areas for further cooperation with Japanese business were outlined. These include ensuring energy resilience and advancing the green transition, development of renewable energy sources and storage systems, and reducing the carbon intensity of Uzbekistan’s economy. Particular emphasis was placed on deep processing of critical minerals and establishing full value chains.

Promising areas also include the development of mechanical engineering and industrial equipment to build a modern high-tech industrial economy. Special focus was placed on advancing information technologies, including the implementation of artificial intelligence and digitalization programs.

Another important direction is the creation of modern special economic zones designed to become centers for high-tech, export-oriented industries and platforms for industrial cooperation through automation and digital control systems.

Concluding his speech to the business community, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that Uzbekistan regards Japan not only as an investor, but as a strategic partner in building the industry of the future.

The main outcome of the visit was the signing by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of the Joint Statement on Expanded Strategic Partnership for Future Generations, which elevates Uzbek-Japanese relations to a fundamentally new level. A wide package of agreements was also adopted in education, healthcare, environmental protection, water management, transport, urban development, tourism, agriculture, and disaster-risk reduction.

Expanding cooperation potential

Against the backdrop of Uzbekistan’s ongoing technological transformation and innovative development, there is substantial potential to further expand economic cooperation with Japan in trade, investment, and scientific-technical exchange. The agreements reached during the visit form a solid foundation for advancing cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

According to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, Uzbekistan has significant untapped export potential with respect to Japan. Promising export categories include copper and copper products, textile and apparel goods including home textiles, aluminum and aluminum products, fruits and nuts, as well as electrical equipment and devices.

Japan’s experience in developing innovation clusters may serve as a valuable model for Uzbekistan. In this context, promising areas include the creation of joint venture funds and startup accelerators, support for technology transfer, and commercialization of scientific developments.

Japan’s experience in smart agriculture and agricultural education is also highly relevant for Uzbekistan. Cooperation in this area offers opportunities to modernize agriculture, increase water efficiency, boost productivity, and implement sustainable farming practices.

Thus, the President’s visit to Japan has already become an important driver in deepening and expanding economic cooperation between our two countries, contributing to fuller realization of partnership potential, modernization of Uzbekistan’s economy, and strengthening the presence of Japanese business in Uzbekistan. The strengthened strategic partnership will improve quality of life and broaden opportunities for future generations.

Nozimjon Ortikov,