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A SHARED GENETIC CODE: THE REVIVAL OF THE CULTURAL AND CIVILISATIONAL HERITAGE OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH ASIA
📅 01.06.2026
Historically, Central and South Asia constituted a macro-region of intensive cross-cultural and civilisational exchange.
The peoples of the two regions were repeatedly incorporated into common state formations and shared political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spaces. It was through these territories that major routes passed, connecting the Middle East, Europe, India and China. Close contacts facilitated the dissemination of scientific knowledge and philosophical ideas, as well as achievements in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, diplomacy and systems of public administration.
In contemporary conditions of global turbulence and a deficit of mutual trust, understanding the deep historical and civilisational commonality of Central and South Asia is of particular importance. This is not only a matter of retrospectively analysing trade ties or political contacts of the past. Data from modern population genetics confirm the existence of stable, centuries-long anthropological interconnections among the population of the macro-region.
The results of large-scale palaeogenetic studies, including the sequencing of ancient DNA (aDNA) from representatives of the Indus civilisation, together with archaeological and linguistic evidence, make it possible to reconstruct the directions of migration flows and the transformation of the gene pool over millennia.
Studies of the ancient population of southern Uzbekistan and of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC) demonstrate the genetic continuity of local populations and their close contacts with ancient communities of the Iranian Plateau, north-western India and the Indus basin.
The specific nature of these processes in the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age indicates that the territories of present-day southern Uzbekistan functioned as a space of permanent demographic and cultural exchange. They formed part of a single area of intensive circulation of people, technologies and cultural practices. This factor shaped the closeness of anthropological, linguistic and religious processes in Central and South Asia without erasing their autochthonous identities.
This is not a question of genetic homogeneity, but of a centuries-old system of demographic interactions that shaped the closeness of anthropological, linguistic, cultural and religious processes in Central and South Asia.
In this context, Uzbekistan attaches special importance to the restoration of deep historical and cultural relations in order to create a solid foundation for enhancing connectivity. After 2016, the country’s modern foreign policy is based on the synergy of pragmatic economic and transport partnership and the recognition of the common historical destiny of the macroregion.
At the same time, within the framework of the “Termez Dialogue”, projects are being formed for the joint study of Buddhist and Islamic heritage. The exceptional syncretism of the monuments of southern Uzbekistan (Kara-Tepe, Fayaz-Tepe and Kampyrtepa) reflects the historical synthesis of Indian, Hellenistic, Iranian and Central Asian traditions, marking the routes of the transfer of Buddhism from India to East Asia.
A new stage of civilisational synthesis is associated with the integration of the region into the Islamic space from the eighth century onward. Termez became one of the key intellectual centres of the Muslim world, as evidenced by the influence of Sufi networks and the legacy of the outstanding thinker al-Hakim at-Termizi, whose works retain authority in both Central and South Asia. In the Timurid era, these ties served as a basis for the formation of the unique Indo-Muslim civilisation of the Great Mughals, whose origins directly go back to the cultural matrix of Mawarannahr.
Relying on this historical and civilisational foundation, Tashkent today advocates the creation of a common cultural and humanitarian platform for Central and South Asia, one that demonstrates a high degree of complementarity with the foreign policy strategies of key South Asian states.
India: New Delhi views Uzbekistan’s initiatives through the prism of its own Connect Central Asia concept. Cultural and historical parallels (the Baburid era, Sufism and Buddhist heritage) enable India to expand its humanitarian presence in the region, as reflected, in particular, in the opening of branches of leading Indian universities (Amity and Sharda) in Uzbekistan.
Pakistan: For Islamabad, deep spiritual ties with Samarkand and Bukhara are critically important. The development of programmes of “ziyarat tourism” (pilgrimage tourism) acts as a catalyst for humanitarian contacts and contributes to the growth of mutual trust necessary for implementing large-scale trans-regional transport projects.
Afghanistan: For Kabul, Uzbekistan’s depoliticised initiatives open a legitimate channel of interaction with the outside world, allowing the country to integrate into regional economic processes without being drawn into political confrontation.
The strategic potential of the macro-region is closely linked to its demographic characteristics. Central and South Asia are among the youngest regions in the world: the share of the population under 30 exceeds 60 per cent, while the median age is about 28. This demographic resource serves as a key driver of sustainable growth and the activation of intersocietal ties, which makes the development of human capital particularly urgent.
In these conditions, joint work in the field of human capital development becomes increasingly important. This includes the training of qualified personnel, the expansion of scientific and academic cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and technologies, and the intensification of youth and public contacts.
Uzbekistan is consistently scaling up inter-university and scientific and academic cooperation in the macro-region. A practical example of this activity is Termez, where programmes of vocational and language training for Afghan students have been launched with the support of international organisations. As a result, the city is being transformed into a major educational and humanitarian hub at the junction of the two regions.
In this context, Tashkent’s modern initiatives aimed at restoring trans-regional connectivity appear as a natural continuation of a historical model of development determined by the deep interdependence of states.
The contemporary foreign policy course of Uzbekistan is based on the synergy of pragmatic economic and transport partnership and the recognition of the macro-region’s shared historical destiny. In implementing this strategy, Termez, an ancient intellectual and logistical hub linking Mawarannahr, Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent, acquires special significance.
Its historical role was shaped by a unique geostrategic position. Already in antiquity, Termez was an important centre of the Greco-Bactrian and Kushan worlds. It was the Kushan Empire that created one of the first stable political and economic spaces uniting the territories of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.
Today, Uzbekistan is institutionalising this heritage by creating new multilateral dialogue platforms. The key element of this architecture is the international platform “Termez Dialogue”, which is focused on developing transport and logistical connectivity, humanitarian diplomacy and academic interaction.
The expert community notes the qualitative evolution of this platform. The second session of the “Termez Dialogue”, scheduled for 4–6 June 2026 in Tashkent, Termez and Samarkand, marks a transition from conceptual discussions to the formation of applied mechanisms of cooperation in politics, logistics, climate adaptation and cultural exchange. The forum is acquiring the status of a specialised international platform for developing multilateral approaches to regional security and the Afghan settlement process.
The fundamental distinction of Uzbekistan’s approach lies in its reliance on the concept of “inclusive regionality”, which presupposes the obligatory inclusion of Afghanistan in the system of trans-regional ties. Tashkent proposes an alternative model of diplomacy, viewing humanitarian cooperation as an instrument for reducing interstate contradictions and overcoming regional fragmentation.
Thus, contemporary Uzbekistan is carrying out a conceptual rethinking of the historical experience of interaction between Central and South Asia in relation to the realities of the twenty-first century. By developing the “Termez Dialogue” platform and stimulating trans-regional connectivity, Tashkent is transforming historical memory of a single civilisational space into a viable mechanism of multilateral integration, humanitarian partnership and indivisible regional security.
Alisher Sabirov
Doctor of Historical Sciences
Nizami National Pedagogical University
of Uzbekistan
ORGANIZATION OF TURKIC STATES: DYNAMICS OF DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES
📅 27.05.2026
Over the past five years, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has undergone a qualitative transformation, evolving into an effective mechanism for interregional cooperation.
The stability and effectiveness of this format are largely determined by the degree of development of its institutional architecture. Within the OTS, this architecture features a multi-tiered structure, comprising the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Committee of Senior Officials, the Council of Elders and the Secretariat of the organization.
A powerful impetus to the development of the association was provided by the adoption in 2021 of the “Turkic Vision – 2040” strategy, which became the conceptual foundation for the formulation of sectoral roadmaps, action plans, and a system of long-term milestones. The implementation of this strategy has manifested most visibly in the areas of transport digitalization, customs procedures, investment cooperation, and educational exchange.
Special attention should be paid to the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), within the framework of which efforts have intensified to harmonize legislative approaches in the fields of trade, transport regulation and humanitarian cooperation.
A significant impetus to the development of the OTS was provided by the active engagement of Uzbekistan in the organization's work. In the subsequent period, Tashkent became one of the key drivers in modernizing the OTS agenda. At the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the promotion of projects in transport connectivity, industrial cooperation, digital transformation, and investment collaboration intensified. It is with the invigoration of Uzbek participation that many experts associate the organization's transition from a declarative stage to a phase of practical institutionalization.
The 2022 Samarkand Summit provided an additional symbolic and political impetus, during which decisions were made to establish the Turkic Investment Fund and institutionally expand the economic agenda. This stage solidified the evolution of the OTS toward forming a fully-fledged geo-economic space while preserving its cultural and historical foundation.
Concurrently, economic cooperation is steadily establishing itself as a key pillar of the OTS development. The combined demographic potential of the organization is estimated at approximately 178 million people, a significant portion of whom comprise a young, able-bodied population. The nominal GDP of the member states exceeds USD 1.8–1.9 trillion, while their total foreign trade turnover surpasses USD 1.1 trillion.
In recent years, interregional trade has demonstrated steady positive dynamics. According to estimates by the OTS Secretariat, mutual trade turnover among member states reached USD 22–23 billion, nearly doubling compared to the figures at the beginning of the decade.
Uzbekistan plays a notable role in this process. By the end of 2025, the Republic's trade volume with OTS countries exceeded USD 9 billion, whereas in 2019, this figure stood at approximately USD 4.2 billion. Thus, over a six-year period, the trade turnover has practically doubled.
A prime example is the Uzbek-Turkish industrial cooperation. The number of enterprises with Turkish capital participation in Uzbekistan has surpassed 2,000, while the total volume of joint investment projects is estimated at over USD 5 billion. A significant share of these projects is concentrated in the textile industry, building materials manufacturing, electrical engineering, and the food industry.
The specific significance of this interstate association is driven by its geo-economic location. The member states of the organization are situated at the strategic intersection of transport arteries linking East Asia, the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Europe.
Its central element is the Middle Corridor, which connects China, Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and onwards to European markets. Over the past three years, the route has demonstrated steady cargo traffic growth. By the end of 2025, shipment volumes along the corridor exceeded 4.5 million tons, whereas in 2021, they stood at less than 1 million tons.
A key driver of this growth has been the comprehensive modernization of port infrastructure. For instance, following its reconstruction, the Baku International Sea Trade Port now possesses the capacity to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, including up to 100,000 containers, with future expansion potential reaching 25 million tons.
The acceleration of delivery timelines is of equally vital importance. While cargo transportation from China to Europe along this route previously required 40–50 days, the digitalization of document flows (e-CMR), the unification of pre-arrival customs declaration procedures, and infrastructure modernization have successfully reduced this timeframe to 18–23 days.
The creation of a trans-regional "green energy corridor" is emerging as a highly promising avenue of cooperation, envisaging the export of electricity generated from renewable sources in Central Asia and the South Caucasus toward Europe. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have intensified their coordination regarding the synchronization and construction of the necessary power transmission infrastructure.
At the same time, in the context of accelerating global digitalization, technological development is acquiring not only economic but also strategic importance, forming the foundation for enhancing the efficiency of interstate cooperation, modernizing industry, and strengthening infrastructural connectivity.
The combined volume of the digital economy of the member states already exceeds $110 billion, while the average annual growth rate of the sector in a number of countries stands at 12–18%, which is significantly higher than the global growth rates of traditional industry.
The strengthening of the OTS digital development track was reflected in the agenda of the informal summit held on May 15, 2026, in Turkistan, where artificial intelligence and digital development served as the central theme. This highlighted the organization's transition toward treating technological transformation as a high-priority area of strategic cooperation.
Uzbekistan is likewise demonstrating accelerated digital modernization. By the end of 2025, the country's export of IT services exceeded $1 billion, representing a nearly fivefold increase compared to 2020. Hundreds of companies operate through a network of specialized IT Parks, serving external markets, including the OTS member states. Within the framework of regional cooperation, the Republic actively promotes initiatives for the unification of digital services and the development of joint educational programs in high technology.
However, the effectiveness of these processes is largely determined not only by economic but also by humanitarian factors. In this regard, the OTS possesses a unique advantage, as it is built upon a deep historical and cultural commonality, linguistic proximity, and a shared civilizational heritage among the member states.
A pivotal role in this process is played by a network of specialized institutions, among which the International Turkic Academy, TURKSOY, TURKPA, and the Turkic Universities Union hold particular significance, ensuring the comprehensive development of humanitarian, scientific and educational cooperation.
These structures provide coordination for scientific research, the development of joint educational initiatives, the promotion of cultural heritage, and the expansion of inter-societal engagement.
Special attention is dedicated to the development of academic integration. Since 2025, dozens of academic exchange programs, including joint master's and doctoral tracks, have been implemented within the framework of inter-university cooperation among the OTS states. The number of students participating in educational mobility between the countries of the organization increases annually by an average of 18–22%.
A notable contribution to this process is made by leading universities, such as the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Ankara University, Samarkand State University, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, which serve as key centers for personnel training and scientific support for integration processes.
Separate attention of the member states is directed toward expanding tourism potential. The cumulative tourism flow among the OTS states has increased by more than 35% over the past five years. A significant impact was delivered by the development of joint tourist routes, including pilgrimage, historical-cultural, and ethnographic programs.
In this context, "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" program and the granting of this status to cities such as Khiva, Aktau, Turkmenbashi, and Shusha have contributed to a significant intensification of tourism exchange within the format.
Another factor driving tourism development has been the formulation of a unified tourism product, "Tabarruk Ziyorat," aimed at developing religious and educational tourism among Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye.
Looking ahead, the OTS possesses significant potential for further strengthening as a space for practical cooperation.
Crucial importance in this context will be attached to the deepening of economic cooperation by reducing non-tariff barriers and digitalizing trade and customs procedures, the further development of transport and logistics connectivity - primarily within the framework of the Middle Corridor - the expansion of technological collaboration focused on the development of the digital economy and joint innovation platforms, as well as the strengthening of expert-analytical, academic and educational interaction.
On the whole, deepening cooperation across key areas will serve to strengthen the role of the OTS as one of the most promising frameworks ensuring the development and resilience of Central Asian nations.
In this context, the informal OTS summit held in Turkistan stands as a crucial milestone in advancing this agenda, reaffirming the commitment of the member states to expanding practical cooperation and defining new benchmarks for joint development, primarily in digital transformation and technological collaboration.
WATER CONSERVATION MUST BECOME ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES
📅 17.04.2026
Today, global demand for water resources is steadily increasing. In this context, the rational use of shared water resources in Central Asia is one of the key factors in ensuring regional security, stability, and sustainable development.
The constructive proposals and practical initiatives put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at addressing global environmental challenges—particularly water security—are widely supported by countries across the region. In this regard, the introduction of modern irrigation technologies is considered the most effective solution for improving water-use efficiency in agriculture. These technologies not only help conserve water but also reduce costs related to fertilizers, fuel, and labor, while increasing agricultural productivity.
From the early stages of reforms in New Uzbekistan, enhancing the culture of water use has been elevated to the level of state policy. The “Uzbekistan–2030” Development Strategy identifies the widespread introduction of water-saving technologies across all irrigated lands as a top priority.
In his Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan, the President emphasized the importance of this issue, noting that a total of 3.3 trillion UZS will be allocated in 2026 for the implementation of water-saving technologies (approximately $275 million).
Analysis shows that since 2019, the state support mechanism—including subsidies for the adoption of water-saving technologies—has proven effective and has significantly encouraged clusters and farmers.
As a result, between 2019 and 2025:
- drip irrigation was introduced on 664,000 hectares,
- sprinkler irrigation on 124,000 hectares,
- other modern irrigation methods on 73,000 hectares,
- water-saving irrigation using flexible pipes and film-lined furrows on 124,000 hectares,
- and 1.6 million hectares were laser-leveled.
As a specialist in this field, I can confidently say that water-saving irrigation methods—particularly drip and sprinkler systems—are becoming increasingly popular among farmers.
On February 3 of this year, a presentation was held before the President focusing on improving water efficiency and expanding the use of water-saving technologies. Additional measures to scale up these efforts were discussed.
In particular, by 2028 it is planned to introduce water-saving technologies on an additional 930,000 hectares, increasing the total coverage to 3.5 million hectares, or approximately 80% of all irrigated land.
The adoption of these technologies will ensure more reliable water supply, especially for regions facing water scarcity. Reforms aimed at strengthening state support in this area are being consistently advanced.
In accordance with the Presidential Resolution dated February 5, 2026, new incentive mechanisms are being introduced for agricultural producers.
Specifically:
- the target is to expand water-saving technologies to 3.5 million hectares by 2028;
- drip irrigation will be introduced on 220,000 hectares,
- sprinkler irrigation on 110,000 hectares,
- and laser land leveling will be carried out on 600,000 hectares.
In 2026, commercial banks will allocate 2.6 trillion UZS in loans, while 800 billion UZS will be provided as subsidies.
A system for continuous professional development based on the experience of Xinjiang (China) will also be introduced.
Starting from 2027:
- water-use tax rates and subsidies will be differentiated based on water availability;
- a 1.25 coefficient will be applied for subsidies in water-scarce regions;
- and a doubled tax rate will apply where water-saving technologies are not implemented despite stable water supply.
From April 1, 2026, the use of traditional irrigation methods on subsidized lands where water-saving technologies have already been introduced will be considered unauthorized water use and will result in financial penalties.
In Uzbekistan, human capital development remains a priority. Under the “School of Water Specialists” initiative, 10,000 agricultural workers will be trained this year, and 358 specialists will undergo training abroad.
In addition, starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, higher education institutions will enhance training programs in this field, incorporating international best practices.
In conclusion, efforts to ensure the rational use of water resources, expand the adoption of water-saving technologies, and deepen sectoral reforms are reaching a new level.
Today, the time has come to elevate water conservation into a true nationwide value.
Dauranbek Kdirbaev,
Ministry of Water Resources
Head of the Department for the Implementation
of Water-Saving Technologies
The first meeting of the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia to take place in Termez from May 19 to 21
📅 16.05.2025
The first meeting of the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia, dedicated to the theme "Building a Common Space for Peace, Friendship, and Prosperity," will be held in Termez on May 19-21, 2025. This meeting is expected to be attended by representatives of the foreign policy agencies of Central and South Asian countries, which are becoming the focus of world politics, as well as representatives of specialized UN organizations, international and regional organizations such as the CIS, the SCO, the CICA, and leading specialists and experts in relevant fields.
Central and South Asia have long been connected by reliable trade routes and have served as a bridge between the countries of the Middle East, Europe, and China. The peoples of this region share historical and civilizational commonalities, having repeatedly existed within common state associations in the past, as well as within a single political, economic, and humanitarian space. Over many centuries, relations between the two regions have been strengthened by numerous migration flows, intensive trade exchanges, rapid dissemination of scientific ideas, and cultural cross-pollination.
As a result of the spread of Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam in these regions, unique ethnocultural associations formed, which left a deep mark on human history.
The incorporation of the peoples of this region into such states as the Bactrian and Kushan kingdoms, the Turkic Khaganate, Khorasan and Transoxiana, the Ghaznavid, Timurid, and Mughal empires had a great influence on their historical, cultural, and political development. Common customs, traditions, lifestyles, and holidays were formed; spiritual values were created in Persian, Turkish, and Arabic. Medieval cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, Termez, Balkh, Herat, Ghazni, Agra, and Delhi were shared centers of science.
The mutual competition of colonial powers negatively affected the traditional ties, trade, and cultural exchange of the peoples of Central and South Asia. Trade and economic relations in South Asia changed, and local supply systems, main industries, and economies became dependent on supplies from outside the region. This development weakened the traditional cultural ties between South Asia and Central Asia.
Today, jointly addressing existing problems that threaten peace and stability in the region is one of the important factors in the social, cultural, and economic development of these countries. Therefore, the renewal of their close historical ties is becoming increasingly relevant. Taking the above into account, the Termez Dialogue on the Connectivity between Central and South Asia is being organized.
The location chosen for the dialogue is connected to the geostrategic position of this city, situated at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, or at the intersection of interregional connectivity routes. Termez has long been a center of trade, economy, and crafts, serving as a link between the vast regions of Central and South Asia. Therefore, from a geopolitical perspective, the city can be considered a "natural bridge" connecting Central and South Asia, the most suitable place for bringing the peoples of the region closer together through its historical location and cultural heritage.
Currently, the countries of Central and South Asia represent a territory of global significance, with a population of more than 2 billion people and great educational potential. The region is experiencing high demographic growth, with the majority of the population consisting of young people, and there are enormous opportunities for realizing intellectual potential. While the population of South Asian countries is about 2 billion people, the number of people living in Central Asia is about 82 million, and the population of Central Asian states is growing year by year. The countries exhibit a "disparity in literacy levels." For example, among the leading countries of Central Asia, the average adult literacy rate is 99 percent, while in South Asia it is 74 percent.
One of the pressing problems is the uneven quality of education, insufficient coverage of preschool and higher education, especially among girls and residents of remote areas. In South Asia, youth unemployment remains high, and in some countries, this figure exceeds 40 percent. At the same time, the employment rate of women is one of the lowest in the world. In addition, the infrastructure of educational systems is not sufficiently developed, and the shortage of specialists and teacher qualifications also creates a number of problems.
In this context, cooperation in the field of science and education is becoming increasingly relevant. Scientific cooperation in the context of digitalization and geopolitical instability will allow for maintaining dialogue between academic circles. At the same time, limited academic mobility and weak coordination between scientific communities significantly hinder the development of states' potential in science, innovation, and technology.
In this regard, it is necessary to encourage joint research and innovation work, the organization of scientific and educational internships, experience exchange programs, the development of startups, and the holding of competitions.
The adoption of a joint program of academic and research exchanges under the auspices of UNESCO is becoming relevant. It is also necessary to launch an online platform between universities and research structures of the countries of Central and South Asia.
This will contribute to the creation of a sustainable regional network of scientific diplomacy, the formation of a common agenda in the field of education and technology, and the emergence of a unified scientific space.
The above-mentioned steps will serve as a powerful tool for the development of scientific diplomacy, which will facilitate interaction between the countries of the two regions.
From this point of view, the integration of intellectual resources in Central and South Asia, strengthening cooperation in the field of education, and developing cooperation platforms to improve the quality of education are important for the future of the region. The transformation of demographic potential into human capital is the main condition for sustainable development, economic growth, and a worthy place in global competition for both regions. In this regard, the development of education as one of the priority areas of regional cooperation, the development of partnerships for the exchange of experience and training of personnel in various countries is most relevant.
The countries of the region, in particular India and other South Asian countries, have in recent decades been occupying an increasingly prominent place in the world community in the field of science, technology, and innovation. Information technology, aeronautics, pharmaceutical production, and artificial intelligence are rapidly developing in India. For example, in 2014, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history as the first Asian country to launch an artificial satellite into Mars orbit. In 2023, as part of the "Chandrayaan-3" project, a successful landing on the Moon's surface was achieved. These results demonstrate the country's independent and innovative capabilities in the scientific field.
In the field of information technology, India has become one of the world's largest IT outsourcing centers. Cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai have become major hubs for Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Oracle, and many other multinational corporations. Every year, millions of specialists in technical and technological fields are trained in the country. Among India's higher education institutions are prestigious scientific centers like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), which also rank highly in global ratings. It's worth noting that scientific research in artificial intelligence, bioengineering, quantum computing, and cybersecurity is widespread in the country.
Pakistan is also making progress in science, especially in nuclear energy and military technologies. Centers such as COMSATS University and the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) play a crucial role in the country's scientific development. In particular, government programs are being implemented to strengthen international cooperation in IT and cybersecurity.
In Bangladesh, alongside the textile and light industry, information technology is developing rapidly. Based on the "Digital Bangladesh" strategy, the country has widely implemented e-government, digital, and distance learning services. In 2021, over 120 IT parks were established in Bangladesh, demonstrating the country's commitment to digitalizing its economy.
Afghanistan's scientific and technological potential remains limited, and issues related to political stability are hindering its development. Nevertheless, some universities and educational institutions in the country, particularly Kabul University, participate in scientific projects with the support of various international educational organizations.
In this context, developing a joint strategy for digital connectivity between Central and South Asia is crucial. Adopting such a document will create significant opportunities for stimulating trade and investment, improving access to education and healthcare, strengthening regional cooperation, and increasing competitiveness on the global stage.
Coordinating efforts of Central and South Asian countries to widely implement the digital economy will contribute to improving digitalization processes in all spheres of life. Moreover, this will advance the implementation of the SDG initiative to ensure safe Internet access for the population and will open up great opportunities for education and medical services.
Overall, deepening digital connectivity between Central and South Asia will bring significant economic and social benefits to both regions, create a solid foundation for expanding trade, economic, energy, and transport links, and enhance the competitiveness of the region's states on the global arena.
In general, the Termez Dialogue is an important initiative that contributes to elevating the interaction between Central and South Asian states to a new level in the process of today's geopolitical and civilizational transformations. This dialogue, particularly in the fields of education, science, and new technologies, will stimulate, consolidate, and expand the intellectual potential of the two regions. This is because in both regions, the majority of the population consists of young people who show high interest in education, are capable of scientific research, and quickly adapt to digital technologies.
Today, countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have achieved world-class successes in information technology, biotechnology, nuclear physics, medicine, and artificial intelligence, while Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian countries are also taking active measures to update scientific infrastructure, expand international cooperation, and implement modern educational projects. The Termez Dialogue is a unique opportunity to combine this experience and achievements, establish student and scholar exchanges, create joint research centers, and develop startups and innovative platforms in IT and STEM.
This dialogue has great historical significance in ensuring regional stability, creating a foundation for peace, progress, and intellectual development through science and education. The states of Central and South Asia have the potential to become the leading intellectual center in the entire Eurasian space based on the principle of mutual trust and shared future, integration in the spheres of education and science.
UN PUBLIC SERVICE FORUM: AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE UZBEKISTAN’S REFORMS ON A GLOBAL SCALE
📅 27.05.2025
Proposals for the development of environmental protection and tourism were considered
📅 20.09.2024
Prezident Shavkat Mirziyoyev 19-sentabr kuni atrof-muhitni muhofaza qilish va turizm sohalaridagi takliflar taqdimoti bilan tanishdi.
Hozirgi kunda havoni musaffo saqlash, ekologik hodisalarning ta'sirini kamaytirish tobora dolzarb bo'lib bormoqda. Shu bois bu borada ikkita dastur ishlab chiqildi.
Birinchisi - Chang bo'ronlariga qarshi kurashish va ularning oqibatlarini yumshatish bo'yicha 2024-2030-yillarga mo'ljallangan milliy dasturdir. Bu hujjatda “Yevro-4” standartidan past toifadagi yoqilg'ini sotish va undan foydalanishni bosqichma-bosqich to'liq taqiqlash nazarda tutiladi. Buning uchun Buxoro va Farg'ona neftni qayta ishlash zavodlari yuqori sifatli yoqilg'i ishlab chiqarish bo'yicha modernizatsiya qilinadi.
Ikkinchisi - Toshkent shahrida atmosfera havosi sifatini yaxshilashga qaratilgan chora-tadbirlar dasturi bo'lib, unga ko'ra, kelgusi 5 yilda poytaxtimiz va unga tutash Toshkent viloyati tumanlarida 441 gektar “yashil belbog'” va bog'lar tashkil qilinadi.
Sanitar tozalash ishlarini tartibga solish maqsadida mavjud markaz negizida Chiqindilarni boshqarish va sirkulyar iqtisodiyotni rivojlantirish agentligini tuzish taklif etilmoqda. Sanitar tozalash korxonalarining samaradorlik ko'rsatkichlariga qarab, uchta toifaga ajratgan holda reyting tizimi joriy qilinadi.
Yangi quriladigan, balandligi 12 metrdan yoki umumiy maydoni 500 kvadrat metrdan ortiq bo'lgan binolarni loyihalashtirishda unga tutash hududlarning kamida 25 foizini ko'kalamzorlashtirish talabi qo'yiladi. Shuningdek, atrof-muhitga zarari ko'p sanoat korxonalari ham “yashil belbog'”lar barpo etish majburiyatini oladi.
Ekologik huquqqbuzarliklarning oldini olish, bu borada jamoatchilik nazoratini kuchaytirish masalalariga ham e'tibor qaratildi. Faol va jonkuyar insonlarni rag'batlantirish maqsadida “O'zbekiston Respublikasida xizmat ko'rsatgan ekolog” faxriy unvonini ta'sis etish taklifi bildirildi.
Atrof-muhit bilan bog'liq bo'lgan masalalar bo'yicha qarorlar qabul qilish jarayonida jamoatchilikning axborot olish imkoniyati, ishtiroki va odil sudlovga erishishish imkoniyati to'g'risidagi Orxus konvensiyasiga qo'shilish masalasi ko'rib chiqildi.
Ma'muriy javobgarlik to'g'risidagi kodeksga qurilish maydonlarida atmosfera havosini muhofaza qilish talablariga rioya qilmaslik bo'yicha modda kiritish maqsadga muvofiqligi aytildi. Shuningdek, daraxtlarni kesish va qasddan quritish, daryo o'zanlaridan noqonuniy qum-shag'al qazib olish, chiqindilarni belgilanmagan joylarga tashlash kabilar uchun jarimalarni oshirish va qat'iylashtirish choralari ko'riladi.
Vazirlar Mahkamasining 2019-yil 27-maydagi qarori bilan respublikada ekologik markirovkalash tizimi joriy etilgan. Endi ISO 14024 xalqaro standartiga muvofiq, “Yashil belgi” nomi ostida mahsulot va xizmatlarni ixtiyoriy ekologik markirovkalash yo'lga qo'yiladi. 2 ming 336 ta xo'jalik yurituvchi subyektlarda avtomatik monitoring stansiyalari, chang-gaz tozalash uskunalari va suv tozalash inshootlarini o'rnatish bo'yicha tarmoq jadvallari tasdiqlanadi.
Ekologiya vazirligi huzurida jamoatchilik nazorati ostida boshqariladigan va yuridik shaxs maqomiga ega bo'lmagan “Yashil xayriya jamg'armasi” tashkil etiladi. Elektron xarid ilovalarida “Yashil to'lov” ixtiyoriy ustama turi ochiladi.
Sohadagi yana bir muammo yovvoyi hayvonlarni asrash bilan bog'liq. Ularni xonadonlarda boqish huquqiy jihatdan tartibga solinmagan. Shu bois endi yovvoyi hayvonlarni uy sharoitida, sirk va shapitolarda saqlash hamda tomoshalarda foydalanish taqiqlanadi. Jismoniy shaxslar ixtiyoridagi hamda sirklarda saqlanuvchi bunday jonzotlar hayvonot bog'laridagi reabilitatsiya markazlariga, okeanariumlar, pitomnik va ilmiy-tadqiqot muassasalariga topshirilishi belgilanmoqda.
Taqdimotda tibbiy turizmni rivojlantirish chora-tadbirlari ham muhokama qilindi.
Shu maqsadda O'zbekiston bu yo'nalishda Markaziy Osiyoning “chorlovchi nuqtasi” sifatida targ'ib qilinadi. “Tibbiy xizmatlar mehmondo'stligi” dasturi amalga oshiriladi. Tibbiy va sog'lomlashtirish muassasalari faoliyati rag'batlantirilib, ularning yagona reyestri ishga tushiriladi. Mehmonxonalar kabi yulduzli sanatoriylar faoliyati yo'lga qo'yiladi.
Davlatimiz rahbari bular bo'yicha hujjat loyihalarini puxta ishlab chiqish va ijrosini samarali tashkil etish bo'yicha ko'rsatmalar berdi.
Improving Housing Conditions in Uzbekistan: The Role of Demographic Growth and Urbanization
📅 13.05.2026
In recent years, improving the living standards of the population and ensuring access to housing has become one of the top priorities of state policy in Uzbekistan. The reforms being implemented in this area go beyond simply increasing construction volumes — they are being carried out through a comprehensive approach closely linked to accelerating demographic growth and urbanization.
Demographic Factor and Growing Housing Demand
The high rates of demographic growth observed in the country require a fundamental review of housing policy. In recent years, the country’s population has been growing by nearly 800,000 people per year, and the number of new families by 250,000 — figures that demand a sharp acceleration of efforts to meet housing needs. To address this demand, the construction of 110,000 apartments for 2025 alone. By 2040, the goal is to double the number of housing units built annually to 421,000 and increase the mortgage loan portfolio to $56.7 billion.
Urbanization and the Shift to Integrated Construction (Vertical Growth)
Due to rapid population growth and limited land resources, the approach to urban expansion is changing. The approximately 40% of the country’s multi-apartment housing stock, currently made up of 2–3-story buildings, is being replaced by modern housing built on the principle of vertical growth, incorporating social infrastructure and green spaces.
Strict urbanization criteria have been established for the development of “New Uzbekistan” residential districts. In particular, new sites are selected based on the following criteria:
- The district must be located near the district (or city) center (within 2 km) and have existing infrastructure.
- At least 70,000 residents must live in the area.
- Construction of buildings covering at least 100,000 square meters and no fewer than 7 stories.
Institutional Reforms and Digitalization
To effectively manage urbanization and the housing market, the National Committee for the Sustainable Development of Urbanization and the Housing Market has been established. This committee coordinates urbanization processes, renovation programs, and the construction of “New Uzbekistan” districts. To prevent uncontrolled urban sprawl, plans are underway to designate 45 agglomeration zones across the country and launch the “Sustainable City” platform. Additionally, a unified digital urbanization platform called “Uy-joy” is being created to consolidate all urban planning processes, a land bank, and project data.
Environmental Sustainability and “Green” Standards
Environmental sustainability is a priority in the modern urbanization process. According to state programs, in “New Uzbekistan” districts, at least 2% of the cost of constructing multi-apartment housing must be allocated to creating green spaces around residential buildings. For large investment projects in Tashkent, it is mandatory that green spaces occupy at least 30% of the area. Housing and construction projects are evaluated and certified according to special “green” standards.
Social Protection and Financing (Mortgage Subsidies)
The acceleration of urbanization must not leave socially vulnerable segments of the population behind in the housing market. To this end, the mortgage subsidy system has been fully automated through the “subsidiya.idm.uz” platform. The system of providing state budget subsidies to cover down payments and interest has been expanded for low-income families, young people under 30, single women in difficult social circumstances, and official labor migrants.
In general, the reforms aimed at improving housing conditions in Uzbekistan are not simply about constructing new buildings — they represent a broad state policy directed at creating a modern urbanization environment that can withstand strong demographic growth, is ecologically clean, have infrastructure, and is comfortable for the population.
Uzbekistan as an Operational Hub for Technology Companies: Key Figures, Conditions, and Advantages
📅 24.06.2026
Relocating an operational office to a new jurisdiction is invariably a complex undertaking, involving unfamiliar regulatory environments and concerns regarding continuity of team management and internal processes. Uzbekistan addresses the majority of these challenges — and this article examines the factors underpinning that proposition and the reasons why more than 1,000 technology companies have chosen the country as their base of operations.
Why Companies Choose Uzbekistan
For businesses originating from CIS countries, Uzbekistan offers a familiar business culture, an established professional rhythm, and a legislative framework that is relatively straightforward to navigate. Teams integrate into operational workflows more rapidly, and founders are not forced to spend the initial months resolving administrative or logistical matters.
A further advantage is the elimination of lengthy preparation periods for basic operational setup. IT Park provides not only company registration assistance but also fully equipped, ready-to-use office infrastructure - including furniture, equipment, and communications.
All core administrative processes are handled through a single interface — the One Stop Shop — covering company registration, tax administration, bank account opening, and documentation requirements, without the need to navigate multiple institutions. A dedicated team with experience guiding hundreds of companies through this process is on hand to anticipate and resolve common complications.
For teams relocating with their families, the Softlanding Program offers assistance with housing, documentation, and post-relocation adaptation, enabling employees to settle in efficiently and transition smoothly into professional responsibilities.
Zero Risk Program: Launching Without a Cash Flow Gap
The Zero Risk Program is designed to accelerate the initial operational phase of relocation. Participating companies receive a fully furnished and equipped office, enabling near-immediate commencement of operations. The program additionally covers a portion of recruitment and staff training costs and reimburses up to 15% of payroll expenses, allowing businesses to assemble their teams and reach full operational capacity without undue financial pressure.
Tax Conditions for IT Park Residents
IT Park residents benefit from some of the most advantageous tax conditions available to technology businesses in the region: a 0% rate on corporate income tax, VAT, and social tax. Personal income tax for employees stands at 7.5% - considerably lower than prevailing rates across much of Europe.
These conditions allow companies to direct a greater proportion of resources toward team development and business growth rather than absorbing a high tax burden.
The cost of living and operational expenditure in Uzbekistan further reinforces this advantage, enabling businesses to reduce recruitment and retention costs, as well as day-to-day operating expenses, while maintaining working and living conditions conducive to international business.
IT Visa and Conditions for Teams
A three-year IT Visa is available to founders, investors, and technology specialists, allowing holders to reside and work in Uzbekistan without a separate work permit. The visa extends to family members and grants access to healthcare and education services on equivalent terms to Uzbek citizens, as well as the right to purchase real estate without value restrictions.
Uzbekistan as a Base for International Expansion
For a growing number of companies, relocation to Uzbekistan extends beyond operational transfer. The country is increasingly regarded as a strategic platform for international development. The IT and BPO sectors are expanding rapidly, with regional offices and delivery centers being established to serve clients across Europe, the CIS, Asia, and the United States. Uzbekistan's geographical position between European and Asian markets facilitates access to multiple markets simultaneously.
Uzbekistan–Czech Republic: A Strategic Partnership at a New Stage of Development
📅 27.04.2026
Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic are entering a new phase in their relationship, building on the strong foundation laid over more than three decades. During this period, Uzbek-Czech ties have evolved from largely ceremonial contacts into a system of substantive engagement spanning political dialogue, trade, investment, and cultural and humanitarian exchange. Today, as Uzbekistan deepens its connections across Europe, the Czech Republic stands out as one of its most prominent partners in Central Europe.
The framework of the current relationship took shape from the first years of independence. The two countries established diplomatic relations on January 1, 1993, and the Czech Republic moved quickly to open a trade mission in Tashkent – one of the first to do so – which it converted into a full embassy in November 1994. Over the following decades, both sides steadily built out the treaty and legal framework, developed inter-parliamentary ties, and established intergovernmental communication channels, creating the infrastructure for genuine cooperation.
The year 2023 marked a qualitative turning point. Reciprocal visits at the prime ministerial level – Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s visit to Tashkent in April and Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov’s visit to Prague in October – infused the relationship with new content and momentum. The talks produced the Interstate Joint Declaration “On Enhanced Cooperation”, which set the direction for the partnership in the years ahead.
The pace of engagement has not slowed since. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský visited Tashkent in October 2024, and in September 2025 President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Petr Pavel met on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. Both sides have concentrated on expanding ties in investment, transport, innovation, and agriculture – a focus that reflects the practical, results-oriented character of the bilateral dialogue.
An important institutional development came in February 2025, when both chambers of the Oliy Majlis established Uzbek-Czech inter-parliamentary groups. These structures sustain continuous dialogue at the parliamentary level and create conditions for strengthening the legislative relationship and broadening the treaty and legal framework.
This political activity has created fertile ground for trade and economic engagement, which is showing positive momentum. Bilateral trade reached $189.7million in 2025. Although this represents a slight decline from 2024, the figure is three times higher than the 2018 level, reflecting the broader long-term upward trend. The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Industrial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation serves as the structural instrument for sustaining this trajectory; its tenth session took place in Prague in March 2025. Through this mechanism, both sides are steadily expanding their business presence.
More than 40 companies with Czech capital now operate in Uzbekistan, and that number continues to grow. A vivid example of Czech business interest is Škoda Group’s intention to launch a joint venture in Uzbekistan for the local assembly and maintenance of railway rolling stock, as well as to establish a Škoda Academy for the training of industry specialists.
Beyond manufacturing and trade, Czech business is also making inroads in healthcare. Contacts with Czech pharmaceutical companies are becoming more regular, and Czech medicines and modern medical equipment have gained a solid presence on the Uzbek market.
Czech business interest is underpinned by active government support: the Czech Republic is actively backing Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, which is expected this year. Membership in the organization will open new opportunities for foreign investors and create additional conditions for expanding trade.
The humanitarian dimension of the partnership has taken the longest to develop and is, for that reason, the most durable. As far back as 2003, Termez State University and Charles University launched a joint archaeological expedition in the Surkhandarya region. Over twenty years of fieldwork, the project has uncovered previously unknown monuments from the Bronze and Iron Ages. The exceptional finds gathered over the years of research formed the basis of the exhibition “From Zarathustra to Genghis Khan”, which opened in Tashkent in April 2023 on the occasion of Prime Minister Fiala's visit.
The cultural agenda continues to grow. Czech musical ensembles regularly participate in the Sharq Taronalari festival in Samarkand, while the Czech-Uzbek Friendship Society in Prague has for many years served as a living platform for people-to-people diplomacy.
Academic and scientific cooperation is also advancing. The National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, the Tashkent Medical Academy, and a number of other universities are running joint programmes with Charles University, Comenius University, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, and Mendel University.
Student interest in Czech education continues to grow steadily: over the past five years, the number of students from Uzbekistan studying in the Czech Republic has doubled, approaching 700. The annual Czech government scholarship programme, which gives Uzbek citizens access to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral study, has contributed significantly to this growth.
Labour mobility between the two countries is also developing. Around 3,000 Uzbek citizens currently work in the Czech Republic in industry, construction, trade, and services, and an annual quota of 150 labour visas reflects both sides’ structured approach to organising labour mobility.
All of this sustains a steady flow of mutual travel, supported by a direct weekly air service between Tashkent and Karlovy Vary that makes the Czech Republic a readily accessible destination.
The breadth and depth of this engagement naturally raises the question of priorities for the bilateral dialogue going forward.
First, opening an Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Prague would improve the speed of contacts, expand Uzbekistan’s diplomatic presence, and allow more effective support for joint projects.
Second, despite the temporary decline in trade volumes in 2025, the potential for recovery is considerable. The Czech Republic’s high standing in the Prosperity Index, 8th in the EU in 2026, confirms its status as a key technology and investment partner for Uzbekistan.
Third, particular promise lies in mechanical engineering, machine-tool manufacturing, and industrial automation. According to Harvard University’s Economic Complexity Index, the Czech Republic has held 7th place globally for a decade in its capacity to produce and export technologically sophisticated goods – precisely the kind of partnership Uzbekistan needs for its industrial modernisation agenda.
Overall, the Czech Republic is consolidating its role as one of the strategic anchors in Uzbekistan’s European partnership network. The convergence of Czech industrial capacity and Uzbekistan’s dynamic, fast-growing economy lays the foundation not merely for an exchange of goods, but for deep technological integration and large-scale industrial projects designed to last for decades.
Kayumova Madinabonu,
Leading Researcher of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea: From Investment Partnership to Technological Cooperation
📅 05.09.2026
Uzbek–Korean relations are entering a new stage of development. While trade, investment and equipment supplies previously formed the foundation of bilateral ties, the emphasis is now shifting towards deeper industrial and technological cooperation.
The development of joint production and technology chains, the localisation of high-tech manufacturing, the advanced processing of critical mineral resources, and human capital development are emerging as key areas of bilateral cooperation. This trajectory is aligned with the long-term priorities of both countries.
The Republic of Korea seeks to diversify its sources of raw materials and enhance the reliability of supply. Uzbekistan, in turn, is interested in expanding domestic resource processing, adopting advanced technologies, and increasing the value added generated within the country. The complementarity of these objectives provides a basis for moving from predominantly investment-based cooperation towards a comprehensive industrial and technological partnership.
In 2025, bilateral trade amounted to approximately $1.8 billion. In August 2026, the two governments established a joint working group tasked with increasing annual trade turnover to $4 billion in the near term.
Investment cooperation has assumed an even greater scale. The cumulative volume of Korean investment attracted to Uzbekistan’s economy has exceeded $10 billion, including approximately $8 billion in foreign direct investment. The presence of Korean businesses is also expanding. Today, around 1,000 enterprises with Korean capital operate in the country, compared with 359 in 2019.
The investment base accumulated over the years has been translated into a number of major projects. The most significant is the Uz-Kor Gas Chemical joint venture, valued at approximately $4 billion — the largest investment project in the history of bilateral relations. The enterprise produces polyethylene, polypropylene and commercial gas for the domestic market and export.
The automotive industry occupies a prominent place in bilateral cooperation. In partnership with Kia Corporation, the ADM Jizzakh plant manufactures a broad range of vehicles using semi-knock-down assembly. Enterprises within the UzAuto Components network manufacture components for UzAuto Motors vehicles, including air-conditioning systems, seats, stamped parts and plastic components.
Industrial cooperation also extends to the textile sector. Posco International Group enterprises in the Fergana and Bukhara regions process cotton fibre and export high-quality yarn and fabrics to European and Asian markets.
Cooperation is also developing in the pharmaceutical industry. At the Tashkent Pharma Park cluster, Korean companies are participating as investors and technology providers in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products in accordance with international Good Manufacturing Practice standards.
The broadening sectoral scope of cooperation is creating the conditions for a transition from individual investment projects to sustainable production linkages between enterprises in the two countries.
Why Cooperation Is Acquiring a New Quality
Deeper industrial and technological cooperation is being driven by changes in the global economy. Geopolitical uncertainty, trade restrictions and the restructuring of global supply chains have increased the importance of economic security.
This issue is particularly relevant for the Republic of Korea. Its leading industries — electronics, semiconductors, automotive manufacturing and battery production — depend on stable supplies of raw materials, materials and components.
The country ranks third globally in electronics manufacturing and is a leader in the memory-chip segment. It accounts for approximately 13–15 per cent of the global semiconductor market. The Republic of Korea is also among the world’s seven largest automobile manufacturers and the three global leaders in battery technology.
The reliance of its key industries on imports is prompting Seoul to broaden its economic partnerships and diversify its supply base for raw materials, processed materials and components. Against this backdrop, Central Asia is assuming greater importance as a resource-rich region seeking to advance its industrial modernization.
At the same time, Uzbekistan is placing greater emphasis on the quality of incoming investment. At the present stage, not only the volume of investment but also its technological impact is becoming increasingly important. The principal focus is on establishing new production facilities, expanding domestic processing, strengthening export capacity and training qualified personnel.
The convergence between the Republic of Korea’s need for reliable sources of raw materials and Uzbekistan’s aspiration to develop their advanced processing lends particular importance to cooperation in critical minerals.
From Raw-Material Trade to Value Chains
Uzbekistan possesses reserves of copper, tungsten, lithium, molybdenum, zinc and other strategically important resources. For the Republic of Korea, these resources are of interest as an important component of the raw-material base for high-tech industries.
For Tashkent, the priority is not simply to expand raw-material exports, but to progressively deepen their processing within the country. In this regard, a promising model would integrate resource extraction, processing, the manufacture of intermediate products and their subsequent industrial use into a single value chain.
This approach serves the interests of both sides. It would enable the Republic of Korea to diversify its sources of strategic raw materials and enhance supply-chain resilience. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, would be able to expand processing, master new technological processes and increase the share of high-value-added products.
The localisation of individual stages of the technological cycle in Uzbekistan is becoming particularly important. The greater the number of production operations carried out within the country, the more substantial the benefits for industry, employment and the training of national specialists.
Thus, the traditional model of cooperation, based primarily on supplies of raw materials and equipment, is gradually being complemented by a model centred on the joint creation of value added.
Technology, Financing and Human Capital
The development of production chains requires not only investment, but also technology, long-term financing and qualified personnel. The combination of these elements could become one of the principal strengths of the Uzbek–Korean partnership.
The financial and institutional framework required to deepen cooperation is already taking shape. Under the partnership with the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), the ceiling for concessional financing available to Uzbekistan has been raised to $2 billion. The funds are being channelled into projects in digitalisation, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
Additional opportunities are provided by the Export-Import Bank of Korea. It helps finance the acquisition of Korean industrial equipment through credit lines extended to Uzbek banks. Export credit insurance mechanisms also facilitate the mobilisation of bank financing for joint initiatives.
These financial instruments are complemented by expanding technological cooperation. In August 2026, the two sides intensified their engagement in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. With the support of the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea (NIA), cooperation is developing in digital government, data standardization and the introduction of AI solutions.
For Uzbekistan, this work is important not only in terms of the digitalization of individual sectors. The standardization of production data, automation and the application of artificial intelligence can increase productivity and lay the groundwork for the development of modern smart manufacturing.
Human capital development remains an equally important component. Branches of four South Korean universities operating in Uzbekistan — Yeoju, Inha, Bucheon and Kimyo International University — train engineers, IT specialists and technologists for emerging sectors of the economy.
This educational dimension is complemented by the organised employment of Uzbek specialists in the Republic of Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS). Employment at Korean industrial and shipbuilding enterprises enables them to acquire practical skills and become familiar with modern manufacturing practices.
The significance of this mechanism is gradually extending beyond labour mobility. If the acquired competencies are used effectively, it could become an important channel for transferring industrial expertise and professional knowledge.
The combination of financial instruments, technology and human capital development is creating the foundation required for deeper industrial cooperation.
From Bilateral Partnership to a Regional Dimension
The integration of Uzbek–Korean cooperation into the broader agenda between the Republic of Korea and Central Asia opens up additional opportunities.
The first summit between the Republic of Korea and the five Central Asian states is scheduled to take place in Seoul on 16–17 September 2026. The new format reflects Seoul’s growing interest in the region as a promising area for industrial, technological and resource cooperation.
This creates additional opportunities for Uzbekistan. The country possesses a sizeable domestic market, considerable demographic potential, a substantial resource base and a developing industrial sector. Its accumulated experience of cooperation with Korean businesses and financial institutions constitutes another significant advantage.
Taken together, these factors enable Uzbekistan to position itself as one of the leading platforms for the Republic of Korea’s industrial and technological cooperation with Central Asia.
The consistent development of production chains, localisation of technologies and training of qualified personnel could make Uzbek–Korean cooperation a notable example of the transition from an investment partnership to industrial and technological cooperation in Central Asia.
Chief Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), Doctor of Economics
Dmitry Trostyansky
GENDER POLICY IN UZBEKISTAN
📅 13.06.2026
In recent years, wide-ranging reforms have been implemented in our country aimed at creating equal rights and opportunities for women and men, ensuring the full participation of women in social and public life, supporting them socially, economically, and legally, as well as protecting them from harassment and violence.
Thanks to the high political will and initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the issues of ensuring gender equality, protecting the interests of women, and ensuring the strength of families have been designated as priorities of state policy. The programs and strategies adopted in this regard are recognized not only at the national but also at the international level.
The participation of women in the socio-political, economic, and spiritual life of our country is increasing day by day. Today, they actively participate in state administration bodies, parliament, local councils, entrepreneurship, and scientific fields. Systematic measures are being implemented to create new jobs for women, develop their knowledge and potential, and widely involve them in entrepreneurial activities.
Within a short period, a national legislative base corresponding to international standards in this field was created. In particular, more than 100 normative-legal acts have been adopted over the past eight years. Among them, such important regulatory documents as the Law "On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men" and the Law "On Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence" are of particular importance.
Today, Uzbekistan consistently continues to cooperate with international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, and UNESCO in implementing its gender policy. This cooperation is creating new opportunities for protecting the interests of women and allowing them to fully manifest their potential in our country.
In order to properly establish the gender equality policy and ensure its full implementation, the “Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality until 2030” was adopted. Work on its introduction to all spheres and sectors is being carried out rapidly.
The “Uzbekistan – 2030 Strategy” defines important goals and tasks for strengthening the system of supporting women, ensuring their rights and legal interests, increasing their social, economic, and political activity, and ensuring gender equality.
First, to continue the policy of ensuring gender equality and increasing the share of women in leadership positions by boosting their socio-political activity;
Second, to create an environment of intolerance toward harassment and violence against women in society, and to ensure the rights and legal interests of women;
Third, to establish a transparent mechanism for targeted work with the “Women's Notebook” (“Ayollar daftari”) and establish public control over these efforts.
Concepts such as gender analysis of regulatory legal acts, adopting a gender-responsive national budget, and gender auditing are being introduced into legislation and put into practice.
The Commission on Increasing the Role of Women in Society, Gender Equality, and Family Issues has been established. It coordinates efforts to create equal opportunities in all aspects of rights and freedoms, protect the interests of women in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and develop and implement relevant measures to eliminate existing problems. Furthermore, regional commissions on increasing the role of women in society, gender equality, and family issues are operating under local Councils of People's Deputies.
To effectively implement state policy on ensuring the rights and interests of women and comprehensively strengthening the family institution, a vertical system has been created that reaches down to the lowest level – the neighborhood (“mahalla”) and household.
In order to elevate state policy regarding families and women in the Republic to a new level, find systematic solutions to their problems, and effectively organize and coordinate the activities of authorized bodies, the “Committee for Family and Women” was established along with its divisions in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions, Tashkent city, and districts (cities). The Committee has been effectively implementing tasks such as continuing the policy of ensuring gender equality, increasing the socio-political activity of women, and carrying out reforms to support them.
The "Family and Gender" Research Institute under the Committee has created the `uzgender.uz` electronic platform for studying and monitoring gender issues in Uzbekistan. It contains data such as gender indices, an electronic corpus, interactive services, a gender analytical newsletter, and a gender library. In addition, online platforms such as `gender.stat.uz` by the National Statistics Committee and `gendermadad.uz` by the NGO "Madad" under the Ministry of Justice have been launched to provide our people with consultations and information on relevant topics.
To ensure the implementation of tasks set out in the Law "On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men," advisory councils on ensuring gender equality have been established under state bodies, economic management structures, the private sector, and civil society institutions.
Today, the number of these Gender Advisory Councils has reached 4,000 nationwide. These councils serve as an important platform for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for men and women, maintaining gender balance in workplaces and all spheres of social life, protecting the interests of women, and effectively implementing decisions related to gender policy.
Attention is paid to increasing women's activity in political life: the Electoral Code legally stipulates that at least 40% of candidates nominated for deputy positions by political parties (or 2 out of every 5 candidates) must be women. A norm was also introduced in the Family Code establishing the marriage age for both men and women as 18 years. The list of occupations with unfavorable working conditions where the use of women's labor was fully or partially prohibited has been abolished.
In the political arena of our country, women are emerging not just as participants, but as leaders. Currently, they make up:
35% of leadership positions;
45% of entrepreneurship;
49% of political parties;
53% of higher education.
Many leading women are working in several key positions in our country – including the Chairperson of the Senate, Head of the Presidential Administration, Deputy Prime Minister, Ombudspersons, ministers, and heads of agencies and committees. This is a high evaluation of the intellectual potential, spiritual maturity, and management skills of modern Uzbek women. While the share of women in ministerial and equivalent positions was only 2.9% in 2018, by 2025 this figure reached 7.7%.
It should be noted that preparing women for leadership positions at various levels is a complex and systematic process that requires thorough preparation. To this end, 244 women have been trained so far under the newly created “School of Women Leaders” curriculum, and about 60 of them have been appointed to various leadership positions.
In particular, 15 women who received the highest Key Performance Indicators (KPI) at the “School of Preparation for Khokim (Governor/Mayor) Positions” were selected and involved in special training programs, indicating a future increase in the number of women among regional, district, and city-level leaders.
Based on Decree No. PF-95 of the President of our State dated June 19, 2025, strategic directions were set to elevate the civil service to a completely new level of quality. Within the framework of these reforms, the issue of increasing the role and activity of women in state governance is designated as a special priority. Specific target indicators have been set for the active recruitment of women into public service for the period up to 2030. In particular, the goal is to increase the share of women in the civil service as well as in the “National Personnel Reserve” to 40%.
By relevant decision of the Government, it has been established that, as a rule, at least 30% of the total number of candidates recommended for admission to the master's program of the Academy of State Policy and Governance under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan must be women. In addition, comprehensive measures are being taken to improve the system of preparing women for high-level positions and to develop their leadership potential. Through this, women will have the opportunity to actively participate not only in the state administration system but also at the level of strategic decision-making.
Education reforms implemented in recent years are also playing an important role in increasing the social activity of women. In the process of reforms carried out to radically reform all stages of continuous education, introduce the latest advanced technologies into the educational process, and raise the professional level of teachers, special attention is paid to the education of women. As a result, in recent years, the interest of women in applied and exact sciences has been growing.
Starting from 2020, a system was introduced to admit women from needy families to higher education institutions on the basis of state grants (1,000 quotas). In 2021, these grant places were doubled, reaching 2,000. In the current year, these quotas were doubled again, reaching 4,000. As a result, over the past 5 years, nearly 13,000 women were admitted to higher education institutions on the basis of state grants under this privilege.
The number of quotas for women who have 5 years of work experience but do not have higher education was increased 5-fold, reaching 2,500. Under this privilege, more than 2,000 women entered higher education institutions between 2022 and 2025.
Since 2022, contract fees for all women studying in master's programs at State Higher Education Institutions have been covered by the state budget. In this regard, funds amounting to 333.8 billion soums were covered by the state budget between 2022 and 2025.
A system of interest-free educational loans for up to 7 years has been established for female students studying in higher education institutions, technical schools, and colleges. In this regard, educational loans worth 4.6 trillion soums were allocated to nearly 415,000 female students in 2022-2025.
As a result of these opportunities and privileges, the share of women among students in higher education reached 53.2%, and in master's programs 65.8%. The interest of girls in modern knowledge and professions is growing. For example, girls make up 51% of the youth trained under the "One Million Coders" project.
Expanding the economic opportunities of women, ensuring their employment, involving them in entrepreneurship, and developing their businesses play an important role in increasing their social activity. Based on the decrees of our head of state, it is planned to ensure the employment of 2 million women and to train 250,000 women in professions and entrepreneurship this year alone.
Also, within the framework of the “HAMROH” program for supporting businesswomen, the following goals are set:
Allocating grants up to 50 million soums to 1,000 “mentor” female entrepreneurs who supported women in implementing "green projects" and IT projects, as well as helping at least 5 women start their businesses;
Allocating collateral-free loans up to 100 million soums to women with a positive credit history;
Forming entrepreneurship skills in women who want to start their own businesses through the launch of the "Partner Entrepreneur" (“Hamkor tadbirkor”) program, helping women start businesses on a cooperative basis, and assisting women in placing and selling their products on local and international electronic platforms.
Also, targeted work is being carried out with female entrepreneurs through a 4-stage system: “First Step to Business”, “Starting a Business”, “Expanding a Business”, and “Elevating a Business” to form a wide layer of “champion entrepreneurs” in cooperation with partner organizations.
As a result, in 9 months of this year, assistance was provided to secure lucrative employment for 2 million 48 thousand women across the Republic:
527.6 thousand women were employed in vacant positions in enterprises and organizations.
296.8 thousand women were trained in vocations and entrepreneurship. In particular, 160.8 thousand women were trained in vocations, 136 thousand women in entrepreneurship, and 63.9 thousand were attached to artisans.
99 thousand women were involved in training by Women's Entrepreneurship Centers.
Commercial banks allocated credit funds amounting to 15.7 trillion soums to 203 thousand women to support entrepreneurship projects. Of this, 1.7 trillion soums of credit funds were allocated to 105 thousand women within the framework of family entrepreneurship development programs. The Central Bank approved the Strategy for Providing Financial Services in the Field of Supporting Women's Entrepreneurship.
In order to systematically organize employment and health-strengthening efforts for women by training them in professional and entrepreneurial skills at the lowest level – the neighborhoods (“mahallas”), the activities of centers for ensuring employment and strengthening the health of women were launched in 2,876 mahallas.
In order to provide comprehensive legal, psychological, and mediation services to families and women, and to train couples getting married in family life lessons, “Family and Women Centers” were established in 197 districts and cities based on new approaches.
The public council “Women's Enlightenment” (“Ayol ma'rifati”) was established, uniting women in the scientific and creative fields to elevate family education and effectively utilize the scientific developments of family scholars that contribute to the development of the family institution. This council implemented about 10 projects, such as "History of Jadid Women," "Woman - Symbol of Progress," "Women towards Ecological Activity," and "Woman - Support of Society."
The "Responsible Parenting" project, aimed at forming prosperous and stable families based on national values among young families, was introduced. As a result of selection events for nominating families for the "Exemplary Family of New Uzbekistan" contest and awarding them with the "Exemplary Family" badge, their number exceeded 160 thousand. 2,000 families were awarded the "Exemplary Family" badge, which is a 9.6-fold increase compared to last year. Today, they actively assist in preventing family conflicts.
In order to sanitize the socio-spiritual environment in families and prevent women from falling under the influence of various negative and foreign ideas, propaganda groups consisting of more than 145 thousand active women were re-formed.
To award active women, the “Mo'tabar Ayol” (Venerable Woman) badge was established, and 2,090 women have been awarded to date. 480 talented girls were awarded the Zulfiya State Prize, established to increase the socio-political activity of young women and create conditions for them to realize their abilities and potential in various fields, as well as to encourage them.
In order to support persons with disabilities, disabled individuals, lonely elderly citizens, and other socially vulnerable categories of the population, and to organize social assistance in a fair, targeted, and transparent manner, completely new and unique mechanisms such as the “Iron Notebook” (“Temir daftar”), “Women's Notebook” (“Ayollar daftari”), and “Youth Notebook” (“Yoshlar daftari”) were created. Through the system of working with the "Women's Notebook" alone, practical assistance was provided to 4.5 million needy, low-income women in 2021-2025.
In order to expand opportunities for increasing women's socio-political activity, special attention was paid to strengthening the preschool education system in the country. While the coverage of children with preschool education was 38% in 2018, as a result of reforms, it was increased to 78%.
In all legal entities except budget organizations, a procedure has been established for granting and paying pregnancy and childbirth allowances from the State Budget funds based on the minimum consumer expenditure for each month to women who have continuous work experience of at least the last 6 months. Under this, it is stipulated that an allowance in the amount of 4 times the minimum consumer expenditure is paid before the birth of the employee's child. For this purpose, more than 56.6 billion soums of pregnancy and childbirth allowances were paid to women working in the private sector from the Social Insurance Fund.
Subsidies are being paid from the State Budget to cover the wages of educators in preschool education organizations established under organizations where women work evening shifts.
A mechanism for taking women victims of harassment and violence under state protection and issuing protection orders has been created. In order to prevent gender-based violence, separate articles on domestic (household) violence, harassment, and disclosing information that humiliates a person's honor and dignity or reflects confidential aspects of human life were included in the legislation.
Centers for Rehabilitation and Adaptation of Women operate to provide socio-legal and psychological assistance to women who have suffered from harassment and violence or fell into difficult social situations, and to provide them with targeted support.
The Committee for Family and Women and its territorial divisions:
Are exempted from paying state fees for lawsuits filed in courts to protect the rights and legal interests of women;
Can submit mandatory representations to heads of state bodies and organizations to eliminate violations of legislative acts, as well as the causes and conditions giving rise to them, in the field of ensuring the rights and legal interests of women and strengthening families;
Benefit from a newly created system to release women from punishment ahead of schedule on bail (surety).
TASHKENT-DELHI: A NEW STAGE OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
📅 20.08.2026
Uzbekistan-India relations are moving from historical affinity toward a practical partnership based on industrial cooperation, investment, technology and regional connectivity
The current stage of Uzbekistan-India relations can be described in one phrase: it is a time to turn historical affinity into practical partnership. The ties between the two peoples, linked for centuries through trade routes, science and culture, are now gaining new substance in investment, industry, technology, transport, pharmaceuticals, education and energy.
The upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan could give fresh momentum to this process. The significance lies not simply in another high-level meeting, but in the opportunity to translate political trust built over many years into tangible economic and technological outcomes. Uzbekistan and India established a strategic partnership in 2011. In the years since, regular dialogue between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought continuity and consistency to this partnership.
From political trust to economic outcomes
Economic interest is one of the main drivers of bilateral relations today. According to India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, bilateral trade has exceeded USD 1.5 billion. At the same time, both sides acknowledge that the existing potential is considerably greater and have set the goal of doubling trade over the next three years.
The new stage is not only about increasing trade volumes. What matters is raising the share of higher value-added products, expanding joint investment and production, and entering third-country markets together. The bilateral investment agreement signed in 2024 and brought into force in 2025 is also intended to strengthen legal guarantees for investors.
Mining, textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and food processing, information technology and mechanical engineering are regarded as key growth areas for economic partnership. The interest of Indian businesses in hydropower, mining and infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan also shows that cooperation is taking on an increasingly practical character.
Industry and technology - new opportunities
Critical and rare-earth minerals have gained particular importance in recent discussions. Demand for these resources is rising as electronics, batteries, electric mobility and renewable energy develop. For Uzbekistan, the main interest is not to be limited to exporting raw materials, but to develop domestic value chains for deeper processing and the production of finished goods.
Pharmaceuticals and the digital economy are also natural areas of cooperation. India has extensive experience in medicines, medical technologies, information technology and digital services. For Uzbekistan, key priorities include establishing joint ventures, localising production, developing software products, supporting start-ups and training highly skilled professionals.
The two countries also share common interests in energy. Cooperation in solar and wind power, energy-efficient technologies, energy storage systems, water-saving solutions and cleaner production can link economic partnership more closely with sustainable development objectives.
Transport and human capital
The absence of a direct overland route between the two countries remains one of the main constraints on fully realizing their trade potential. For this reason, developing transport routes through Iran's Chabahar Port is of strategic importance. Yet an efficient corridor requires more than ports and railways: competitive tariffs, simplified customs procedures, mutual recognition of standards and digitalised logistics are also essential.
Human capital, meanwhile, forms the long-term foundation of the partnership. According to the Secretariat of the President of India, more than 3,000 civil servants, professionals and students from Uzbekistan have participated in India's technical and economic cooperation and scholarship programmes. At the same time, more than 16,000 Indian students are studying at higher education institutions in Uzbekistan. This potential can be further developed through joint research, engineering and IT programmes, and academic exchanges.
Security cooperation is another important pillar of the strategic partnership. In April 2026, the armed forces of Uzbekistan and India held the joint 'Dustlik' exercise in Namangan Region. Countering terrorism and extremism, supporting stability in Afghanistan and developing secure transport corridors are among the shared interests of Tashkent and Delhi.
The key measure of the new stage
Uzbekistan-India relations today rest on a solid political foundation. Trade is growing, the legal framework for investment has been strengthened, and new industrial and technological areas of cooperation are emerging. The central task now is to turn these opportunities into practical results.
In this context, the effectiveness of the upcoming high-level dialogue should not be measured solely by the number of documents signed. The key measure will be the extent to which agreements translate into new production capacities, investment projects, technologies, jobs, export markets and training programmes.
Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia, while India is one of South Asia's major economic and technological centres. A new stage in the Tashkent-Delhi strategic partnership therefore offers an opportunity to give historical friendship modern economic substance and to strengthen bridges of trade, technology and development between the two regions.
Jakhongir Isaev,
Head of Department, NGO Center for Sustainable Development
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan -
Diplomatic Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
State Committee for Tourism Development -
Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan
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invest.gov.uz -
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