Dear compatriots!

Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you, all our people on the holiday of Kurban Hayit, which has come in our country, which is being transformed and illuminated with the light of peace, kindness and harmony every day.

In these blessed moments we all deeply feel the spirit and joy of the great holiday and give immense gratitude to the Almighty for the fact that we meet such bright days together with our people.

Today, Kurban Hayit, firmly established in people's lives as a symbol of mercy, generosity and humanism, is gaining more and more significance, consonant with the content of large-scale reforms in the New Uzbekistan, in which respect for human honor and dignity comes to the fore in all spheres.

It should be especially noted that our sacred religion and this bright holiday, which embodies its humanistic essence, serves as a source of strength and inspiration for us in all good deeds aimed at strengthening the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, friendship and cohesion in mahallas and families, caring for the older generation, youth and women, low-income families, and making sure that no one is left behind.

Dear friends!

In these bright days, when our hearts are filled with joy, we talk about the great work carried out in recent years to revive the original spiritual values, to improve the sacred places, to create favorable conditions for the Muslims of the country to freely perform religious rites, including hajj and umrah.

In a short period of time, international scientific centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termezi and Imam Maturidi have been organized. The memorial complexes of Abu Iso Termezi, Abu Muin Nasafi, Sulton Uwais Karani and Suzuk Ota have been radically transformed. Work on the construction and equipping of the Imam Bukhari memorial complex and the Centre for Islamic Civilization is continuing apace. Majestic mosques are being built in many towns and villages.

Over the past seven years, more than 60 thousand Muslims of the country have made the Hajj. These days 15 thousand more of our compatriots are making pilgrimage to two sacred cities - Mecca and Medina, having realized their most cherished dream.

In such blessed moments, when good thoughts come true, we wish them with all our heart to fully perform the rites of Hajj and safely return to their homeland.

On the eve of the celebration of Hayyit, during our telephone conversation with the Chairman of the Muslims' Board, the Honorable Mufti Sheikh Nuriddin Kholiknazar, who is staying in the holy Mecca, he emphasized the created conditions necessary for our compatriots to perform the rites of Hajj. We hope that, having returned home, our pilgrims will become an example in further strengthening the atmosphere of kindness and mutual assistance in the society, in the struggle of enlightenment against ignorance, strengthening the education of youth and establishing harmony in families.

Dear compatriots!

Today we sincerely congratulate our compatriots abroad on this holiday, wish them health, happiness and success.

We convey warm congratulations to believing Muslims in the states of near and far abroad and sincere wishes of peace and progress to their peoples and countries.

May the ongoing wars and conflicts in different regions cease! May peace reign on the Earth forever!

Dear friends!

Today, together with our multinational people, we are building a new Uzbekistan. The new Uzbekistan is a new life, a new development, a happy future.

If we unite more firmly and continue the initiated reforms with even greater determination, we will undoubtedly achieve this great goal.

We will surely raise our children to be a generation of true patriots, highly educated, possessing modern knowledge and professions.

I wish you happiness and success on this path.

May the Almighty protect our nation!

I once again congratulate you on the holy holiday of Kurban Hayit, wish you health, peace and prosperity to your families.



Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Over the past few years, Central Asia and the Caucasus have emerged as some of the fastest-growing regions in technology and innovation. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan are increasingly strengthening their positions on the global startup map, attracting international investors, technology companies, and entrepreneurs. One of the key platforms bringing together the region’s innovation ecosystem has become the international INMerge summit.

What is INMerge?

INMerge is an international innovation summit that brings together startups, investors, corporations, government representatives, and technology communities from across Central Eurasia. Over the past five years, the project has evolved from a relatively small corporate gathering into one of the region’s leading technology forums.

Today, INMerge hosts participants from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Türkiye, and other countries. Discussions focus on investment, artificial intelligence, startup development, digital infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration. Most importantly, however, the forum helps transform networking opportunities and ideas into real partnerships, projects, and investment deals.

In 2026, INMerge expanded beyond a single-city format by launching a regional Roadshow initiative. Ahead of the main summit, the team is organizing a series of events across key locations in the region. One of the central stops became Tashkent — a city that clearly demonstrated how rapidly Central Asia’s role in the global technology landscape is evolving.

Today, the three countries are shaping a new regional ecosystem, where each contributes its own strategic strengths.

Uzbekistan is now considered one of the fastest-growing tech markets in the region. Over the past year, venture investment volumes increased more than fivefold, the number of startups doubled to over 950, and Tashkent entered the world’s top 100 startup ecosystems for the first time. The country is actively opening up to international investors and steadily becoming a new destination for technology-driven businesses. Uzbekistan is already home to two unicorns.

Kazakhstan continues to focus on infrastructure development and a systematic approach to building its startup ecosystem. The country is developing a large-scale $1 billion fund of funds and has spent several years consistently creating conditions that allow startups to scale not only domestically, but internationally as well. Kazakhstan has also produced two unicorns.

In 2024, IT Park Uzbekistan and Astana Hub took another important step toward regional integration by launching the Central Asian Innovation Hubs initiative. The platform opened access for Central Asian startups to joint programs, international venues, and global accelerators. Today, Azerbaijan is increasingly exploring participation in this ecosystem, gradually contributing to the formation of a unified technological space connecting Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Azerbaijan, in turn, is becoming a platform that connects different markets and innovation communities. Baku was recently named Startup City of the Year, while INMerge Ventures became one of the country’s first locally registered venture capital funds. The city is now emerging as a hub for dialogue between corporations, investors, and technology teams from across the broader region.

At INMerge, this evolving dynamic is described as an “innovation corridor.” It is not simply about neighboring countries collaborating — it is about creating a shared ecosystem where ideas, technologies, investments, and talent can move freely across borders.

From Local Startups to the Global Stage

For startups today, building a product is no longer enough. Founders also need access to investors, strategic networks, and international markets. This is why platforms like INMerge are becoming increasingly important across the region.

One of the clearest examples is the startup competition held in Tashkent. Winners receive not only visibility and recognition, but also the opportunity to present their projects at the final summit in Baku before international investors and major corporations. This model helps connect local ecosystems into a larger regional network, giving young startups a real opportunity for international growth.

The final stage of INMerge will take place on October 8–9 in Baku, bringing together startup founders, investors, corporate leaders, and government officials who are actively shaping the future of Central Eurasia’s innovation economy.

A region that until recently remained outside the global technology spotlight is steadily becoming a new center of growth. And today, INMerge is playing a key role in accelerating that transformation.

The text of the article is in Uzbek!

A study conducted by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms has revealed a large-scale transition of Uzbekistani households to energy-saving technologies. The widespread adoption of energy-efficient solutions has enabled nearly 90% of households to implement at least one measure to reduce energy costs.

One of the key changes has been the widespread adoption of energy-efficient solutions at the household level.

The most common practice has been the installation of LED lighting. Overall, 87% of households have switched to LED lighting. In some regions, such as the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, Navoi, and Tashkent regions, this figure exceeded 90%.

A total of 44% of households improved the thermal insulation of windows and doors through the installation of plastic structures, with particularly high activity in Kashkadarya (84%), Bukhara (69%), and Khorezm (54%) regions.

Additionally, 31% of households purchased energy-efficient household appliances, with the highest shares observed in Jizzakh (60%), Navoi (59%), and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (54%).

There is also growing interest in the use of renewable energy sources. More than half of owner households expressed satisfaction with the results and interest in expanding generation capacity.

The analysis indicates that potential demand for solar panels among the population amounts to approximately 1.9 million households, opening prospects for the formation of a domestic market valued at over $2.3 bn.

At the same time, a share of consumption through less efficient heating sources remains, including outdated gas boilers and solid-fuel stoves.

Potential for Improving Building Energy Efficiency

According to estimates, insulating the exterior walls of apartment buildings, modernizing heating systems, and replacing doors and windows could yield savings of more than $60 mln per year.

According to the World Bank, similar potential exists in social facilities, healthcare institutions, preschools, and public schools. Targeted investments to improve the energy efficiency of these facilities could reduce energy consumption by 20–50%, equivalent to a reduction of up to 7.1 bn kWh per year.

Thus, the measures being implemented in Uzbekistan to enhance energy efficiency serve as an important driver of economic growth.

CERR Public Relations Sector
Tel.: (78) 150 02 02 (417)

Central and South Asia are increasingly facing the same reality: climate risks are no longer a distant forecast. Droughts, water scarcity, heatwaves, land degradation, dust storms, floods, and pressure on water, food and energy security are already affecting economies, public health, infrastructure, and the resilience of entire regions.

This is why the second meeting of the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia is of particular significance. The second meeting is organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. This format reflects Uzbekistan’s consistent foreign policy direction aimed at strengthening trust, open dialogue, and sustainable connectivity between the regions.

While the first meeting introduced the Termez Dialogue as a platform for bringing the two regions closer together, the new agenda takes the next step: moving from a discussion of connectivity to practical mechanisms for joint climate adaptation and stronger environmental resilience. Its task is to move from conceptual discussions to concrete priorities and practical mechanisms, with joint adaptation to climate change identified among the key areas of cooperation.

Climate as a New Test of Connectivity

Climate change shows how closely water, food, energy, transport, health, and ecosystems are linked. When water availability declines, the impact is not limited to agriculture. It also affects hydropower, food prices, migration, employment, soil conditions, and even regional stability. As extreme heat becomes more frequent, cities, transport systems, healthcare systems, and labour productivity all come under pressure.

The Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), prepared as part of the Sixth Assessment Cycle, emphasizes that adaptation is already taking place in all regions of the world, but the gap between what is needed and what is being done remains and will continue to grow at the current pace of action. The IPCC also underlines that the most effective responses are not isolated measures, but integrated solutions that connect water management, agriculture, infrastructure, social protection, ecosystems, and population needs.

This is particularly important for Central and South Asia. Both regions depend on mountain watersheds, irrigated agriculture, the resilience of rural areas, as well as stable and secure energy supply and the cross-border movement of goods and people. Climate adaptation, therefore, cannot remain solely a matter of national policy. It must become part of interregional cooperation.

Uzbekistan: The Data Confirm the Urgency of Action

Uzbekistan’s Fourth National Communication under the UNFCCC identifies the country as among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in Central Asia and Eurasia. This vulnerability is linked to accelerated temperature rise, growing water scarcity, glacier retreat, and the increasing frequency of extreme hydrometeorological events.

Water remains an especially sensitive factor. Uzbekistan’s water resources belong to the Aral Sea basin, while the main surface runoff of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers is formed outside the country. This means that Uzbekistan’s climate resilience is directly linked to the quality of regional and interregional cooperation. Water, data, forecasts, infrastructure, and trust become part of one security system.

Cities as a New Frontline of Climate Adaptation

The climate agenda is also becoming increasingly connected with the future of cities. Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that, over the next 15 years, the country’s population is expected to grow from 38 to 50 million people, while the urbanization rate is projected to rise from 51% to 65%.

For Uzbekistan, this is not only a demographic trend but also a climate challenge. Urban growth increases pressure on water, energy, transport, housing, air quality, and green spaces. Therefore, plans for sustainable urbanization — including the development of “green”, “smart”, “safe”, and “15-minute” cities, the expansion of urban greenery, and the introduction of green city principles — are directly linked to climate adaptation.

In this context, the Termez Dialogue can become a platform for exchanging experience not only on water and agriculture, but also on climate-resilient urban development: from reducing the urban heat island effect and saving water to clean transport, digital air quality monitoring, and designing new districts with climate risks in mind.

A New Emphasis: Adaptation as a Practical Development Agenda

The Termez Dialogue can offer an important new approach: to view adaptation not as a response to crises, but as an investment in sustainable development. This changes the very language of climate policy.

Adaptation is not only about building protective infrastructure or responding to emergencies. It is about more accurate forecasting of droughts and floods and data exchange between countries. It is about water-saving agriculture, the modernization of canals, pumping stations, and urban infrastructure. It is about restoring degraded lands and ecosystems. It is about preparing farmers, engineers, hydrologists, energy specialists, and local authorities to operate under new climate conditions.

This is why the Concept of the second meeting of the Termez Dialogue emphasizes the consolidation of efforts by states and partners to develop coordinated and mutually reinforcing approaches to climate adaptation and to reducing the socio-economic consequences of climate and environmental risks.

Why Central and South Asia Must Adapt Together

Climate risks do not recognize borders. Drought in one part of the region can affect food markets in another. Glacier retreat changes river regimes far beyond mountain areas. Dust storms, heatwaves, and extreme rainfall can affect several countries at once. Joint adaptation is therefore a practical necessity.

The IPCC stresses that around 3.3 to 3.6 billion people worldwide live in conditions of high vulnerability to climate change. It also emphasizes that the vulnerability of people and ecosystems is interconnected: the degradation of ecosystems increases risks for people, while social vulnerability reduces societies’ ability to adapt.

For Central and South Asia, this means that resilience must be built across several dimensions at once: water, food, energy, environment, and society. Food and environmental security cannot be strengthened without water. Infrastructure cannot be modernized without climate forecasts. Risks cannot be reduced without trust and information exchange.

Termez as a Place for Climate Partnership

The choice of Termez has both historical and practical significance. Termez is Uzbekistan’s southern gateway and a natural bridge between Central and South Asia. In today’s conditions, this role acquires new meaning: the city is becoming a symbol not only of transport and trade connectivity, but also of climate partnership.

Afghanistan has a particularly important role. The idea of the Termez Dialogue implies the need for the gradual integration of Afghanistan into regional economic, transport, humanitarian, and climate processes with the support of the international community. In the climate agenda, this is especially meaningful: without Afghanistan’s participation, it is impossible to build genuinely sustainable connectivity between Central and South Asia.

What the Termez Dialogue Can Deliver

The Termez Dialogue can become a platform for launching several practical areas of cooperation.

First, the exchange of climate and hydrological data, including forecasts of droughts, floods, glacier changes, and dust storms.

Second, the joint promotion of early warning systems, so that countries can prepare in advance for extreme weather events.

Third, the development of climate-resilient agriculture: water-saving technologies, drought-resistant crops, digital services for farmers, and the restoration of pastures and soils.

Fourth, ecosystem-based adaptation — the restoration of forests, wetlands, mountain and desert ecosystems that themselves serve as natural protection against climate risks.

Fifth, climate-resilient infrastructure — from transport corridors and logistics centres to energy facilities and rapidly growing cities.

From a Common Challenge to Shared Resilience

The main value of the Termez Dialogue is that it allows the climate agenda to be discussed not in the language of alarm, but in the language of joint solutions. Central and South Asia can not only exchange risk assessments, but also create common adaptation mechanisms: from scientific networks and pilot projects to investment programmes and regional standards for resilient infrastructure.

The new climate agenda of the Termez Dialogue is part of the larger idea of connectivity. Genuine connectivity is not only about roads, trade, and energy corridors. It is also about the capacity of countries to jointly protect ecosystems, human health, and the future of coming generations. The Termez Dialogue can become the space where Central and South Asia move from recognizing their shared vulnerability to building shared resilience.

D.R. Ziganshina, SIC ICWC | 20 May 2026

Due to the Aral Sea tragedy, the negative consequences of climate change are more acute in Central Asia. The increase in air temperature in our region is twice the world average. The number of extremely hot days is expected to double and the area of glaciers will shrink by a third. In the last 30 years, the rate of warming in Central Asia is higher than the global average, and the average annual temperature has increased by 0.5 degrees. According to forecasts, the temperature is expected to increase by 2.0-5.7 degrees by 2085.

Uzbekistan is making active efforts to improve the quality of the environment and prevent the negative consequences of environmental problems. In particular:

Within the framework of international cooperation

Currently, the need for international cooperation in the field of environmental protection is determined by the growing ecological interdependence of all countries. Ozon layer depletion, pollution of the atmosphere and oceans, and the rise in temperature on our planet affect the entire world community, not just the countries engaged in environmentally dangerous activities. Therefore, today, a number of countries have established cooperation with the United Nations Organization on issues of environmental safety.

Such cooperation is based on a number of principles generally recognized by the international community. They are partly reflected in interstate agreements and acts, normative documents of international organizations, and summarized in the decisions of the most important international conferences dedicated to environmental protection and the regulation of cooperation between states and peoples in this field.

Based on this, Uzbekistan is actively promoting important climate initiatives aimed at uniting the region to combat climate change. These ideas of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev are constantly supported by the countries of the region.

As a logical continuation of the formation of a unified climate agenda for Central Asia, the initiative to develop a regional strategy for adaptation to climate change was announced by Uzbekistan at the 5th meeting of state leaders. In addition, the Head of Uzbekistan proposed to establish a multilateral platform at the level of the ministers of ecology - "Central Asian climate dialogue", which can be an integrating link in the path of "green" development in Central Asian countries.

In addition, President Shavkat Mirziyoev put forward a number of proposals at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). In particular, our country's President advocated for an expeditious agreement on the Global Framework for Climate Adaptation within the framework of the Paris Agreement. At the same time, he noted the need for a fair, transparent and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy on a global scale, in which the interests of developing countries must be taken into account. He proposed to consider this urgent problem on a permanent basis, including within the framework of the "G7" and "G20" summits.

Within the framework of environmental reforms in our country

A strategy for the transition to a «green» economy

Uzbekistan adopted the strategy of transitioning to a "green" economy for 2019-2030. The main goals of this strategy are:

Preservation of natural resources: Modernization of irrigation systems, introduction of water-saving technologies.

Use of alternative energy sources: Expanding the use of solar, wind and biomass energy.

Introduction of cost-effective means in economic sectors: Improving energy efficiency in manufacturing and service sectors.

Improvement of environmental legislation

Legislation is also being improved to ensure environmental stability in Uzbekistan. These laws are aimed at providing legal groundwork to the reforms implemented in the fields of environmental protection and ecological stability.

Project "Restoration of sustainable forest landscapes in Uzbekistan"

The project "Restoration of sustainable forest landscapes in Uzbekistan" is being implemented in collaboration with the International Development Association. The cost of the project is more than 205 million dollars and it will be implemented within 6 years. It is important that the goals of the project include such tasks as expanding the territory of forests, strengthening the material and technical base of forestry, introducing sustainable management and developing the infrastructure of ecotourism.

"Uzbekistan - 2030" strategy

In the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy adopted by the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan on September 11, 2023, reforms in the framework of water resources conservation and environmental protection are set as one of the priority goals. A number of measures are envisaged within the framework of the strategy, and they are being effectively implemented. In particular,

National project “Yashil Makon” ("Green Zone").

The Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers No.144-F of March 7, 2024 was adopted in order to implement the activities of the nationwide project "Green Space" in 2024. This project included a number of important initiatives aimed at improving the environmental situation in Uzbekistan and expanding green areas.

138.1 million tree saplings were planted in the spring planting season of 2024 within the "Green Zone" national project. This indicator made 110.5 percent compared to the planned one. This part of the project is aimed not only at environmental improvement but also at improving the aesthetic appearance of our cities.

"Green Parks" and "Green Belts"

In particular, 257 "Green Parks" were established, their total number reached 517. Also, "Green Belts" were established by planting 5.3 million tree saplings in and around industrial enterprises. These efforts were made to reduce the impact of industrial enterprises and protect the environment.

Initiatives of organizations and agencies

Ministries and agencies are also contributing to the aforementioned work. In particular, the Ministry of Defense created a park of 100 hectares, the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the Ministry of Mining and Geology — 65 hectares. These efforts are critical to ensuring the comprehensiveness and sustainability of the project.

Tree planting and waste recycling

In our country, trees have been planted near highways and railways, on river and canal banks, at industrial enterprises and gas stations. These are especially aimed at reducing the negative impact of transport and industry on the environment.

On average, 6.8 million tonnes of household waste are produced in our country per year. In recent years, the number of neighbourhoods covered by sanitation services has increased by more than 90 percent. The level of waste processing was 38.1 percent as of July 1, 2024, and the number of such enterprises was 313 as of February. 

Waste treatment and landfills

A new system for the regulation of landfills and waste processing is being launched. In each region, 3-4 landfills with a convenient location are being turned into special eco-industrial zones, and recycling projects are being implemented. In the remaining landfills, a new practice is being used to start temporary waste collection and reloading stations. The landfills that exhausted their resources are closed, poplar, mulberry, elm and maple trees are planted around them, and "green belts" are being established.

Avazbek Kholbekov,

Head of Department – Development Strategy Centеr

Uzbekistan is undergoing a large-scale transformation of its social protection system, aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens and enhancing the effectiveness of social services. A key driver of this process is the national development strategy “Uzbekistan – 2030”, which focuses on the comprehensive and high-quality modernization of the country’s social policy.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has introduced innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable groups, including low-income families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, victims of violence, women in difficult situations, and children deprived of parental care.

Reforms are being implemented both at the legislative level and through specific programs and projects. A significant milestone was the establishment in 2023 of the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP) under the President of Uzbekistan – the only consolidated, ministerial-level body of its kind in the region, responsible for coordinating the implementation of a new generation of social policy.

Unlike neighboring countries, where social functions are divided among several institutions, Uzbekistan has integrated all components of social protection into a single digital system managed by NASP. This has improved coordination, efficiency, accountability, and has led to real improvements in the lives of vulnerable population groups.

In 2021, Uzbekistan ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The country offers a range of benefits to companies and organizations that employ individuals with disabilities. Many institutions, streets, and bus stops across the country are gradually being adapted to accommodate people with disabilities.

A key focus of the reforms is the development of “Inson” Social Services Centers, established in 208 districts and cities across the country. These centers operate on a one-stop-shop model and provide over 100 types of social assistance, including psychological and legal counseling, food assistance, and targeted aid for 12 categories of citizens, such as persons with disabilities, low-income families, and the elderly.

All centers are fully digitized, integrated with state systems, and operate on an individualized support model. Each citizen undergoes a needs assessment and receives a personalized support plan with ongoing guidance through the recovery or reintegration process.

In every makhalla (community unit), social workers are assigned based on a tiered “region–district–makhalla” structure, according to the number of families and individuals in need.

In the second quarter of the year 2025, 1.787 million applications were submitted to “Inson” Centers. Of these, 1.204 million were processed, while 496,200 are under review. The most in-demand services include compensation for gas and electricity costs, child benefits, support for low-income families, and access to health resorts for seniors and persons with disabilities.

The “From Poverty to Prosperity” program, enacted by Presidential Decree on September 23, 2024, addresses issues of social orphanhood and care for children deprived of parental care. It focuses on the creation of conditions as close as possible to a family environment and on an individual approach to each child. Accordingly, measures have been developed to place such children in foster care and provide them with social services. In particular, priority is given to preserving the family setting when placing a child in foster care. The main forms of placement are guardianship, custody, or adoption. Placement in a specialized institution is considered only as a measure of last resort.

Children with difficult life situations are temporarily placed in family orphanages within “Inson” Centers before being placed in foster care. Each child is assigned an individualized development plan, with records managed through the “Social Protection” system, which tracks both identified orphans and families willing to foster.

In this way, “Inson” Centers serve as legal representatives for such children, safeguarding their interests, monitoring living conditions, the use of support provided, and ensuring caretakers fulfill their obligations.

During his visit to the “Inson” Social Services Center in Tashkent’s Shaykhantahur district, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized: “This is a place where every persons concerns are taken care of and where they strive to make people happy. Through such a system, social justice and human dignity are established in our society”.

Special attention in Uzbekistan is given to families raising children with disabilities. As part of a public-private partnership, a specialized center “Imkoniyatlar Olami” (“World of Opportunities”) was created to provide services to children from birth to three years of age. Previously, such infants were exclusively under the care of their parents, and were admitted to specialized institutions only from the age of three. Now, if a risk of disability is identified during pregnancy, expectant mothers can receive help and counseling here, which will strengthen the care of the child. Psychological support is also provided.

Starting March 1, 2025, a day care services for children with disabilities aged 3 to 18 began operating under a public-private partnership model. It offers a wide range of services – social, rehabilitative, educational, and more. The initiative by NASP aims to support children’s social adaptation and enables parents, previously unable to work due to caregiving responsibilities, to return to employment.

A pilot project in Tashkent – the private kindergarten “Wunderkind” in the Yashnabad district successfully operates such a day care service, offering pedagogical, social, and rehabilitative care for children with special needs.

Another example is Family-type home No. 1 in the Mirzo-Ulugbek district. It currently houses nine children – seven with various medical conditions (Down syndrome, dysplasia, anemia, heart defects), and two without. Education and care are customized: three attend specialized kindergartens, three go to general kindergartens, and three are home-schooled.

The home emphasizes individualized care, love, and a nurturing environment that replicates family life. Caregivers follow development plans and integration programs tailored to each child’s needs and capabilities.

“Children choose their meals and even help prepare them, fostering responsibility and independence”, one caregiver noted.

Currently, nine such homes operate across Uzbekistan – five in Tashkent, two in Kashkadarya, and two in Samarkand.

In accordance with the Presidential Decree “On measures to expand the scope of social services provided to individuals in need of care”, the “Step Towards an Active Life” program is being implemented. Under this initiative, adults with disabilities or those requiring constant care receive free social services through vouchers. These include home-based care, supervision, assistance with hygiene, meals, and psychological support.

An example of the program’s implementation is a center located in the Nodirabegim makhalla of Mirzo-Ulugbek district. It has capacity for nine people and currently serves seven. The center is staffed by five experienced professionals.

Iroda Khamidova, a primary school teacher at Wunderkind:

“Our special day care center for children with disabilities, designed for nine children, currently serves seven. Two caregivers and an assistant are assigned to them. The center operates five days a week for nine hours a day and includes a psychological service.

Educators focus on building essential skills such as holding a spoon or expressing creativity with a pencil. The center was established under a Presidential initiative to support children with special needs.

Here, we’ve created all necessary conditions, including a psychologist’s office where not only children but also parents receive consultations and moral support. Seeing their child in a safe and attentive environment reassures them”.

Farhod Kamilov, Chief Specialist of NASP’s Department for the Development of Medical and Social Services for Persons with Disabilities:

“From March 1, 2025, we launched a pilot day care service in seven regions of Uzbekistan, including Tashkent.

By October 1, we plan to expand the service nationwide. Agreements with entrepreneurs in all districts have already been signed as part of public-private partnerships.

Currently, the day care program covers 1,200 children. We believe it is essential to raise public awareness about their specific needs.

Territorial NASP offices operate psychological, medical, and pedagogical commissions. They conduct comprehensive assessments of children with special educational needs and recommend the most suitable path – inclusive, special, or day care service.

It is important to understand that day care is not an educational institution; it focuses solely on caregiving and development. The entrepreneur provides 9-hour daily care, allowing parents to work or do other things.

With mutual agreement, it may be extended up to 12 hours, but the child must always return home to their family.

Our main goal is to reduce, or ideally eliminate, the need for residential care institutions. That is why these day care services were created. Our main goal is to reduce or ideally prevent the placement of children in long-term institutional care. It is with this purpose that such day care services have been established”.

 Dunyo IA

Human history demonstrates that every great advancement is built upon intellectual and spiritual foundations. Today, a project emerging from the heart of Central Asia is drawing global attention for its scale and significance - Center of Islamic Civilization is not merely an architectural landmark, but an intellectual bridge connecting the past, present and future of the region.

The anticipated opening of the complex in March 2026 has already attracted the attention of leading international publications and organizations, recognizing it as one of the most significant cultural projects of the New Uzbekistan.

The foundation for the project was laid in 2017, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev introduced the initiative at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. At that time, Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized the need to show the international community the true humanistic essence of Islam - enlightenment, peace and creation. This was not only a political statement but also a program for returning to the roots of a land that for centuries served as a cradle of science and culture.

The emergence of this monumental project coincides with a global need for spiritual transformation. In an era where Islamophobia and radicalism are spreading across different parts of the world, Uzbekistan has proposed a model to confront these challenges through science and education.

Today, this vision has materialized in a majestic complex covering ten hectares in the historic center of Tashkent. Its 65-meter azure dome and four golden gates symbolically represent the unity of all regions of Uzbekistan. Across every line of the building, architectural traditions of the Timurid era are harmoniously integrated with modern technological solutions.

Center embodies a balance of religion and science. Its main pillar, reflecting the rich architectural traditions of Ulugh Beg Madrasah, is adorned with a calligraphic inscription of the first revealed verse of the Qur’an, “Iqra” (“Read in the name of your Lord”), symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge as the highest spiritual duty of every individual.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is the 7th-century Uthman Qur’an, a unique sacred relic inscribed by UNESCO in the “Memory of the World” Register.

The architectural concept of the complex impresses not only with its grandeur but also with its full compliance with contemporary urban planning and environmental sustainability standards. Every element of the project - from the foundation to the dome - has been constructed with respect for historical heritage and designed for longevity. The landscaped grounds surrounding the complex transform it into more than a scientific center, creating a spacious cultural and educational zone accessible to both city residents and international visitors.

The exhibition concept of the Center fundamentally departs from that of traditional museums. Built upon the principle endorsed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, “Civilization – Personalities – Discoveries”, it does more than present historical facts; it immerses visitors in a living intellectual innovation. The exhibition is organized chronologically: the pre-Islamic period, the First and Second Renaissance and New Uzbekistan - forming the foundation of the Third Renaissance.

A special feature is the “Wall of Civilizations”, which showcases humanity’s intellectual progress as a continuous process. It illustrates how the discoveries of great figures from each era - including Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani, Ibn Sina, Al-Biruni, and Mirzo Ulughbek - are directly linked to modern high technologies.

The extensive use of VR and AR technologies, holograms, and artificial intelligence enables the Center to “bring to life” unique 9th-century manuscripts, digitally reconstruct the original appearance of ancient observatories and transport past discoveries into the digital realm.

This large-scale integration of digital technologies positions the Center as a museum of the future. Through smart systems, visitors not only receive visual information but can virtually interact with great scientists and participate in their laboratory experiments. The “1001 Inventions” Laboratory, designed for children, sparks early interest in engineering and natural sciences. Center thus evolves beyond a repository of knowledge, becoming an interactive educational platform that nurtures the nation’s intellectual potential.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, has repeatedly emphasized that the true strength of a nation lies in its memory and cultural roots. He instructed that museum exhibitions be enriched with authentic examples of national heritage and that the rarest artifacts preserving the spirit and history of the Uzbek people be returned to the homeland.

In fulfillment of this noble vision, a delegation led by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization and a special commission of scholars, Orientalists and art historians, conducted large-scale research. One of the Center’s most important tasks is the repatriation of national cultural heritage scattered abroad; in recent years, systematic cooperation has been established with prestigious auction houses and private collectors for this purpose.

Thanks to these efforts, more than a thousand unique manuscripts and artifacts have been returned to Uzbekistan. The World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU) has also transferred numerous unique artworks from Transoxiana and Khorasan to the Center's collection.

Scientific expeditions and diplomatic missions organized by the Government of Uzbekistan have facilitated the creation of facsimile copies of manuscripts preserved in major museums and libraries worldwide. This process underscores that the rich cultural heritage of the Uzbek people is not only the legacy of Central Asia but also an integral part of the Islamic world and human civilization. Each repatriated treasure symbolizes the determination of the New Uzbekistan to restore its cultural identity.

The Center of Islamic Civilization is conceived not merely as a museum, but as an active scientific and educational platform. It provides comprehensive facilities for researchers, including a library housing over 200,000 volumes, restoration laboratories, a calligraphy school, and digital archives. Center also hosts offices of prestigious international organizations - including ICESCO, IRCICA and OCIS (Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies) - highlighting its role as a major hub for scientific and educational engagement.

More than 1,500 specialists from over 40 countries contributed to the project. International experts, including Khaled El-Enany, have described the Center as a “unique civilizational complex, integrating a next-generation museum, advanced research infrastructure, a modern library, national and international archives on the history of Central Asian civilizations, digital humanities technologies and an extensive network for global scientific and cultural collaboration”.

President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, referred to the Center as an intellectual hub of the modern world, likening it to historical institutions such as the Bayt al-Hikma, Academy of Ma’mun and Ulugh Beg Madrasah, which once shaped the development of science.

At the Congress “Central Asia: Shared Spiritual and Educational Heritage – Shared Future”, Center was visited by five presidents, becoming a symbol of collective regional pride. The event also brought together more than 300 scholars and cultural figures from Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan.

In February 2026, new reports from Paris further bolstered the project’s global prestige. The International Committee of the “Prix Versailles” included Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent in the list of the “World's most beautiful museums of 2026”.

This recognition is further reinforced by the inclusion of the Center of Islamic Civilization in authoritative international publications and rankings, such as “Smithsonian Magazine”, “BBC Travel”, “BBC History” and “National Geographic”. This places it alongside the world’s major museum initiatives, including the “Lucas Museum of Narrative Art” (Los Angeles), “National Geographic Museum of Exploration” (Washington, D.C.) and “London Museum” (London).

Such acclaim significantly enhances the Center’s scientific and tourism potential, transforming it into a must-visit global landmark. These achievements vividly demonstrate the creative potential of New Uzbekistan and its innovative approach that meets international standards.

It is no coincidence that the Center’s opening coincides with the Holy month of Ramadan. It was in 2018, during this blessed month, that the first stone of this grand project was laid. Now, eight years later, Center of Islamic Civilization will open its doors, becoming a vital symbol of the revival and preservation of Islamic cultural heritage for future generations.

The text of the article is in Russian!

ART

The Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art has been held every two years since 2001 with government support. It serves as an open platform for cultural exchange in the visual arts, showcasing the modern creative potential of different countries and discussing current issues in contemporary art.

The theme of the X Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2024 is "Art and World". Conceptually, it explores the relationship between art and modern reality through the works of artists from various countries. This theme prompts reflection on the nature of the modern world: Does it possess integrity? Today, the world is characterized by polar stances, clashes, and numerous challenges related to preservation, ecology, morality, culture, and identity, spanning personal to state levels. Its landscape is shaped by opposition influenced by globalization, geopolitics, technogenic civilization, and artificial intelligence. How does contemporary art reflect on the modern world?

Simultaneously, the X Tashkent International Biennale aims to showcase various trends and new directions in contemporary art to the general public. It seeks to enhance international cultural relations, strengthen the creative dialogue between cultures, and highlight the achievements of different countries in visual art. The Biennale focuses on liberating creative consciousness, demonstrating pluralism in creative exploration, and illustrating the specifics of the postmodern condition in different countries. It addresses the state of intertextuality in modern art and the preservation or disappearance of local traditions in the era of globalization.

The concept of the Biennale is dedicated to displaying a multicultural lifestyle through the prism of contemporary art. The works presented will reflect diverse artistic expressions that uphold humanistic values. The theme provides an opportunity to explore concepts such as ecology, culture, tolerance, modern orientalism, identity, artificial intelligence, technogenic civilization, and the inner world of individuals.

FOR MORE DETAILS: biennale.uzbekistan@gmail.com, +998-71-233-04-27

Curator of the X Tashkent International Biennale of Contemporary Art:

Sukhrob Kurbanov - Art Critic and Art Historian.

Coordinator of the event:

Asya Tuychiyeva - Head of the Department for International Relations, Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan.