Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan in Geneva

Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan in Geneva page of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva

Uzbekistan: Raising the Status of Teachers as an Element of Education ReformOctober 1 is celebrated in Uzbekistan as Tea...
27/09/2026

Uzbekistan: Raising the Status of Teachers as an Element of Education Reform

October 1 is celebrated in Uzbekistan as Teachers and Mentors Day.
Previously, Teachers’ Day was not tied to a specific date. It was celebrated on the first Sunday of October and included only teachers at educational institutions. Since 1997, it has been celebrated on a fixed date – October 1 – and has been given the status of an official public holiday and a day off. The scope of the holiday was also broadened to include sports coaches, production instructors and other professionals whose work is in one way or another related to passing on knowledge and experience, education or professional mentoring.
To be fair, however, the change in the status of the holiday was not immediately accompanied by a change in the status of those in whose honor it was established. For many years, its celebration coincided with the beginning of the cotton-picking season, and a large proportion of teachers and mentors celebrated the occasion together with their students in the country’s cotton fields. On their professional holiday, instead of bouquets of fragrant roses and chrysanthemums, teachers were greeted by endless dry bushes covered with dusty cotton bolls.
Today, Uzbekistan has put an end to the practice of involving teachers in cotton harvesting, as well as in public improvement work, landscaping and neighborhood inspections. The elimination of compulsory labor duties has become one of the defining features of modern Uzbekistan. Employees in the public sector are no longer engaged in tasks unrelated to their professional responsibilities, and this has been enshrined in legislation.
Decisions and decrees by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, along with Uzbekistan’s accession to international instruments establishing national governments’ obligations in this area, have played a key role in eradicating forced labor. As for teachers, over the past decade, efforts to support them and create favorable conditions for them to perform their professional duties effectively have moved from the realm of declarations into practical implementation.
Consider the following: teachers have been relieved not only of duties unrelated to their profession, but also of excessive paperwork that had burdened both schools and higher education institutions. Reporting requirements have now been reduced to a minimum and concern only criteria and indicators directly related to the educational process.
A significant factor in encouraging teachers’ work has been the increase in their salaries and the introduction of various forms and methods of financial incentives.
According to the latest data, for example, with the basic rate for one standard teaching workload set at 3.73 million sums (around $316), the overwhelming majority of school teachers – around 90 percent – earn up to 6 million sums (more than $500) per month, while another group earns between 6 million and 10 million sums ($500-845). At top-performing schools, or with a higher workload and additional allowances, salaries can reach 20 million sums ($1,690) or more.
These amounts are “piling up” through additional payments for professional categories, strong work results, proficiency in foreign languages, and national or international certificates. Additional allowances have also been introduced for teachers who move to schools with low educational performance – classified as “red” under the national rating system – as well as for those relocating to remote and hard-to-reach areas to fulfill their professional mission. In such areas, teachers can also receive one-time financial assistance and housing rental compensation. This is far from a complete list of social support measures available to education professionals in Uzbekistan.
Teachers receive a 50 percent discount on a number of government services, including cadastral registration, connection to utility networks, taking examinations and obtaining certain certificates. Their children are also entitled to a 30 percent discount on tuition fees when enrolling in public higher education institutions. In addition, starting in 2026, the state will cover 25 percent of the down payment on mortgage loans for teachers with the highest professional category and at least 15 years of experience.
Another new initiative, introduced this year on the eve of the professional holiday, has become one of the major developments in the education sector. Uzbekistan has announced the results of a new nationwide “Teacher of the Year” competition, organized for the first time at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to identify teachers’ creative potential, improve the quality of education, foster an environment of healthy professional competition and encourage their work.
More than 46,000 innovative teachers from across the country took part in the competition. A total of 208 participants – one outstanding teacher from each district and city of the country – were declared winners. They received cash prizes equivalent to 1,400 basic calculation units, or about $50,000. A substantial award, isn’t it?
It is also worth noting that under the Law “On the Status of Teachers,” adopted in 2024 and establishing legal, social and economic guarantees for education workers, their professional reputation and activities are protected by the state.
The state is demonstrating this in practice. According to the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, 2,051 cases of violations of teachers’ rights were prevented in the first half of 2026. It is therefore probably too early to say that all problems in this area have been fully resolved. However, they are being addressed, and as part of the broader education reform, Uzbekistan is paying increased attention to raising the prestige of the teaching profession, strengthening social protection, providing incentives for teachers and creating favorable conditions for their work.
We clearly understand that only by ensuring a high status and authority for teachers can we raise the quality of education in the country to a global level. This, in turn, will allow us to effectively address other tasks of consistent socio-economic development of Uzbekistan.
It remains to add that the Uzbek people have always held educated people and mentors in particularly high regard, as reflected in the proverb, “Ustoz otangdek ulug‘” (“A teacher is as great as your father”). We also remember that the great Sahibkiran Amir Temur bequeathed that he be buried at the feet of his spiritual mentor. Thus, the fundamental change in attitudes toward teachers and mentors in Uzbekistan in recent years shows that the country is returning to its ancient roots in this regard.

Rahimjon Jo’raev
Dunyo IA

UZBEKISTAN AND THE UN: FROM NATIONAL INITIATIVES TO THE GLOBAL AGENDAThe 81st session of the United Nations General Asse...
27/09/2026

UZBEKISTAN AND THE UN: FROM NATIONAL INITIATIVES TO THE GLOBAL AGENDA
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly marked a new stage in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. The ideas and initiatives advanced in New York demonstrated an increasingly strong connection between the country’s domestic reforms, the new environment of cooperation emerging in Central Asia, and the search for solutions to global challenges. Most importantly, Uzbekistan is no longer limiting itself to responding to the international agenda; it is putting forward proposals aimed at helping shape its future direction.
The international system is undergoing serious tests. Armed conflicts persist, geopolitical tensions are intensifying, and trust between states is weakening. Climate change, demographic shifts, water and food security, technological inequality and the rapid development of artificial intelligence have become challenges that no country can address alone.
Against this backdrop, Uzbekistan placed human dignity, peace and cooperation at the heart of the position it presented at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
On 23 September, Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva addressed the General Debate of the General Assembly on behalf of Uzbekistan. In her official statement, the path chosen by the country was defined by three principles: openness, good-neighbourly relations and dialogue with the world.
This reflects, above all, the growing coherence between Uzbekistan’s domestic and foreign policies. Just as human dignity has become a central benchmark for reforms at home, peace, development and human dignity are increasingly treated as inseparable objectives in the country’s international engagement.
Human dignity as a measure of strength
One of the fundamental positions articulated by Uzbekistan from the UN rostrum concerned the very meaning of state strength.
It was emphasised that the true strength of a state should not be measured solely by its military or economic capabilities, but first and foremost by its ability to protect human dignity, rights and interests.
This approach also carries important implications for international relations. Economic growth or security alone is not sufficient when addressing global challenges. The impact of every decision on people’s lives and futures should be a central criterion.
From this perspective, Uzbekistan also set out its vision for the role of the United Nations: the world needs an organisation capable not merely of discussing conflicts after they erupt, but of preventing them; not merely of adopting decisions, but of ensuring their implementation; and an organisation in which the voice of every state can be heard.
Uzbekistan expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative, aimed at adapting the Organisation to contemporary realities. It also supported expanding the composition of the UN Security Council to better reflect today’s world.
These ideas are consistent with the broader discussions taking place within the United Nations itself. As the global balance of power evolves, questions of representation, effectiveness and implementation capacity within multilateral institutions are becoming increasingly urgent.
A new level of diplomatic responsibility
Two further positions announced in New York are particularly significant for the next stage of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy.
In 2027, Uzbekistan will chair the Non-Aligned Movement. The official statement described this role as a responsibility to create new platforms for dialogue at a time of growing international divisions.
Uzbekistan also announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2035–2036.
These initiatives indicate that the scope of Uzbekistan’s foreign-policy responsibilities is expanding. The objective is no longer limited to advancing national interests internationally. Uzbekistan is also signalling its readiness to help shape platforms for dialogue and assume greater responsibility within multilateral institutions.
Central Asia: a model of cooperation
Uzbekistan’s current position at the United Nations cannot be separated from the changes that have taken place in Central Asia in recent years.
Not long ago, the region was frequently associated with unresolved border issues, disagreements over water resources and other tensions. Speaking at the United Nations, Saida Mirziyoyeva noted that the initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the political will of Central Asian leaders had fundamentally changed the atmosphere in the region.
The most important shift has been the emergence of a principle under which neighbouring states are viewed not as sources of threat but as partners.
In this sense, Central Asia’s experience also matters as a practical model that Uzbekistan can bring to the wider global dialogue. Rebuilding trust, resolving complex issues through negotiations and placing shared interests above disagreements are approaches that are already producing results in the region.
Afghanistan: engagement rather than isolation
The issue of Afghanistan follows the same logic.
Uzbekistan stressed that viewing Afghanistan solely as a source of threats will not solve the problem. Nor is leaving the multinational Afghan people alone with their difficulties a viable solution. They need hope and confidence in the possibility of a peaceful future.
This approach is consistent with Uzbekistan’s longstanding position that Afghanistan should be integrated into regional economic processes and that transport and energy projects can help create an economic foundation for long-term stability.
Domestic reforms as the foundation of foreign policy
The General Assembly address also highlighted the transformation Uzbekistan has undergone over the past decade.
According to the official statement, the country’s economy has grown from $50 billion to $147 billion, more than $150 billion in foreign investment has been attracted, and exports have almost tripled. The poverty rate has fallen to 4 per cent, with nearly 10 million people lifted out of poverty.
Preschool enrolment has risen from 27 to 78 per cent, while higher-education coverage has increased from 9 per cent to almost 50 per cent. Average life expectancy has risen from 66 to more than 75 years, while maternal and infant mortality has fallen fourfold.
The significance of these figures goes beyond the statistics themselves. They illustrate the domestic foundation of the ideas Uzbekistan is advancing internationally. Human capital, education, healthcare, poverty reduction and social protection are integral both to national development and to the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Demographic resilience: an emerging global agenda
One of the most important new themes advanced by Uzbekistan during the 81st session was demographic resilience.
In her General Assembly address, Saida Mirziyoyeva emphasised that a child represents the greatest responsibility of the state. Healthy births and quality education, she noted, determine not only an individual’s future but the future of society as a whole.
On 24 September, this idea received a practical follow-up in New York.
The Government of Uzbekistan, together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), convened the high-level event “Demographic Resilience and Human Capital: Investing in People-Centred Reforms for a Sustainable Future.”
The conceptual significance of the dialogue lies in the proposed shift from “demographic anxiety” to “demographic resilience.”
Changes in population size, age structure and geographic distribution have direct implications for economic growth, social protection, healthcare, labour markets, infrastructure and public finances. Integrating reliable demographic data into long-term planning is therefore becoming an essential element of effective public policy.
Another fundamental principle is that human rights and individual choice must remain at the centre of population policies. Concerns over population decline or ageing should not lead to coercive measures or policies focused exclusively on numerical targets.
Reducing gender inequalities, expanding opportunities to combine family responsibilities with employment, and improving access to childcare are also important components of demographic resilience.
The event provided a platform for exchanging policy solutions on adapting to demographic change and strengthening financial cooperation and partnerships among governments, international financial institutions and the United Nations system.
For Uzbekistan, this is also a strategic issue. A young and growing population represents a major opportunity, but it does not automatically translate into an economic advantage. Quality education, modern skills, healthcare, decent employment, gender equality and an effective social protection system are required to realise that potential.
Bringing demographic resilience to the UN agenda therefore represents another way in which Uzbekistan is connecting its national development priorities with an emerging global discussion.
The Aral Sea region: from a symbol of tragedy to a testing ground for solutions
Uzbekistan also proposed a new way of looking at the Aral Sea challenge.
It was emphasised that the Aral Sea did not disappear because of a natural disaster, but as a result of decades of misguided decisions and irresponsible treatment of nature.
Today, green areas are being created on the dried seabed and modern water-saving technologies are being introduced. Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 54 per cent by 2030.
Yet the most significant conceptual proposal made from the UN rostrum was that the Aral Sea should no longer remain merely a symbol of environmental tragedy, but should become a testing ground for environmental solutions.
At Uzbekistan’s initiative, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2027–2036 the United Nations Decade of Afforestation and Reforestation. The next task is to translate this international decision into tangible results.
This reflects an important trend in Uzbekistan’s diplomacy: rather than merely internationalising a national or regional problem, the country seeks to transform it into a platform for testing global solutions and sharing experience.
Artificial intelligence and human dignity
Uzbekistan also used the General Assembly platform to address another major issue of technological development — artificial intelligence.
The fundamental question was framed clearly: will technology serve people, or will people be forced to adapt to technology?
Uzbekistan’s position is that people and their future must remain at the centre of technological progress. Artificial intelligence cannot be separated from the principles of human rights, security, equal opportunity and accountability.
Uzbekistan therefore called for stronger international dialogue in this area.
AI governance today extends far beyond technology itself. It directly affects human rights, education, labour markets, security and global equality. This field may therefore become an important area for Uzbekistan’s future initiatives within the United Nations.
Rule of law and equal opportunities
The address also placed particular emphasis on the rule of law, public trust in the judiciary, and the empowerment of women.
It noted that Uzbekistan has eliminated child labour and systemic forced labour, strengthened accountability for domestic violence, and established a dedicated system to support women’s entrepreneurship. Women now account for 39 per cent of members of parliament.
Economic development, the rule of law and human rights were thus presented as mutually reinforcing and inseparable processes.
Enlightenment and tolerance
Modern information technologies bring societies closer together, but they can also spread hatred and stereotypes at unprecedented speed.
Against this background, the Center of Islamic Civilization established in Tashkent at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented not merely as a place for displaying historical heritage, but as a centre of knowledge, thought and enlightenment.
Uzbekistan expressed its intention to continue international cooperation aimed at strengthening intercultural and interfaith dialogue, enlightenment and tolerance.
This approach also reflects an expanding understanding of security. In the modern world, security is ensured not only through military means but also through education, culture, mutual respect and societies’ resilience to destructive ideas.
Uzbekistan and the UN: from dialogue to systemic partnership
The meetings held by the Uzbek delegation on the margins of the 81st session of the General Assembly provided a practical continuation of the country’s multilateral engagement.
Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The sides discussed key areas of cooperation being jointly developed by Uzbekistan and the United Nations.
The significance of such dialogue is that Uzbekistan–UN relations are no longer confined to individual resolutions or events. Sustainable development, human capital, the environment, human rights, regional security and technological progress are increasingly being brought together within a single framework of cooperation.
The meetings in New York, the initiatives announced from the General Assembly rostrum, and the 24 September high-level dialogue on demographic resilience should therefore not be viewed as separate events. They are elements of a coherent approach taking shape in Uzbekistan’s multilateral diplomacy.
From initiative to impact
The central task now is not simply to increase the number of international initiatives, but to translate them into practical results.
Political dialogue in Central Asia should lead to deeper cooperation in trade, transport, water and energy. Decisions concerning the Aral Sea region should be reflected in improved quality of life and greater environmental resilience. New approaches to demographic resilience should contribute to long-term planning in education, healthcare, employment and social protection.
The principles advanced on artificial intelligence should, in turn, evolve into practical mechanisms capable of maintaining a balance between technological progress and human rights.
It is precisely at this point that the formula “from national initiatives to the global agenda” acquires its full meaning.
National experience should evolve into international initiatives; initiatives into multilateral decisions; and decisions into practical outcomes that improve people’s lives.
This is the essence of the position Uzbekistan presented at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Today, no country can find effective solutions to global challenges on its own. Multilateral cooperation is therefore becoming for Uzbekistan not simply one dimension of foreign policy, but a mechanism connecting national development, regional stability and global responsibility.
Uzbekistan’s chosen path is one of openness, good-neighbourliness and dialogue.
At the heart of that path is human dignity.
Jakhongir ISAEV,
Head of Department, NGO “Center for Sustainable Development”

26/09/2026

BMTNING JENEVADAGI QARORGOHIDA “O‘ZBEKISTON — 2030” STRATEGIYASI TAQDIMOTI O‘TKAZILDI

Birlashgan Millatlar Tashkilotining Jeneva shahridagi qarorgohida “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining ustuvor maqsad va vazifalariga bag‘ishlangan taqdimot o‘tkazildi.

Tadbirda qator davlatlarning BMT huzuridagi doimiy vakolatxonalari vakillari ishtirok etdi. Taqdimot davomida Strategiyaning asosiy yo‘nalishlari, mamlakat taraqqiyotining uzoq muddatli ustuvor maqsadlari va kutilayotgan natijalari haqida ma’lumot berildi.

Taqdimot jarayonida Prezident Shavkat Mirziyoyevning O‘zbekiston Respublikasi davlat mustaqilligining o‘ttiz besh yilligiga bag‘ishlangan tantanali marosimdagi nutqining asosiy mazmuni ham yetkazildi. Unda ilgari surilgan ustuvor yo‘nalishlar “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasida belgilangan maqsadlar bilan qiyosiy tahlil qilinib, mazkur nutqda ifodalangan vazifalar Strategiyaning ustuvor maqsadlarini mazmunan boyitishi va ularni yangi bosqichda amalga oshirishga xizmat qilishi ta’kidlandi.

Xorijiy davlatlar vakillari Strategiyada belgilangan aniq va o‘lchanadigan maqsadlarga katta qiziqish bildirib, O‘zbekistonda olib borilayotgan islohotlarni ijobiy baholadi. Strategiyaning alohida yo‘nalishlari, ularni amalga oshirish mexanizmlari va kutilayotgan natijalar yuzasidan faol fikr almashildi.

Muhokamalarda O‘zbekistondagi siyosiy, iqtisodiy va ijtimoiy islohotlar, tashqi siyosatning ustuvor yo‘nalishlari, ko‘p tomonlama hamkorlik, investitsiyaviy jozibadorlik, mintaqaviy bog‘liqlik hamda Markaziy Osiyodagi o‘zgarishlarga alohida e’tibor qaratildi.

Savol-javoblar davomida BMT imkoniyat va vositalari orqali O‘zbekiston islohotlarini yanada qo‘llab-quvvatlash istiqbollari, investitsiya muhitini yaxshilashga qaratilgan chora-tadbirlarning samaradorligi, O‘zbekistonning Afg‘onistonga nisbatan siyosati, shuningdek, iqlim o‘zgarishi va ekologik barqarorlik masalalari muhokama qilindi.

Muhokamalarda, xususan, Fransiya, AQSh, Ozarbayjon va Afg‘oniston vakillari faol ishtirok etib, “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining mazmuni va ustuvor vazifalari yuzasidan fikr-mulohazalarini bildirdi.

Tadbir ishtirokchilariga “Taraqqiyot strategiyasi” markazi tomonidan tayyorlangan, “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining ustuvor maqsadlari va asosiy yo‘nalishlarini aniq hamda ko‘rgazmali aks ettirishga qaratilgan ingliz va fransuz tillaridagi infografik to‘plamlar tarqatildi.

Tadbir “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasini xalqaro hamjamiyatga kengroq tanishtirish, amalga oshirilayotgan islohotlar yuzasidan ochiq fikr almashish va xalqaro hamkorlikning yangi yo‘nalishlarini muhokama qilish uchun muhim maydon bo‘lib xizmat qildi.

25/09/2026

JENEVA XAVFSIZLIK SIYOSATI MARKAZI BILAN HAMKORLIK ISTIQBOLLARI

Jenevaga tashrifimiz doirasidagi navbatdagi uchrashuv Jeneva xavfsizlik siyosati markazida (Geneva Centre for Security Policy — GCSP) bo‘lib o‘tdi. GCSP global hamkorlik, xavfsizlik va tinchlikni ilgari surishga qaratilgan xalqaro markaz bo‘lib, ekspertlar muloqoti, tadqiqot va ta’lim yo‘nalishlarida faoliyat yuritadi.

Uchrashuv davomida “Taraqqiyot strategiyasi” markazi va GCSP o‘rtasida bevosita hamkorlik aloqalarini yo‘lga qo‘yish, ikki tomonning ekspertlik va institutsional salohiyatidan samarali foydalanish hamda o‘zaro manfaatli qo‘shma loyihalarni amalga oshirish imkoniyatlari muhokama qilindi.

Muloqotda “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining ustuvor maqsadlari, mamlakatimizda amalga oshirilayotgan islohotlar, ularni monitoring qilish va baholash, shuningdek, davlat siyosatini ishlab chiqishda tahliliy va ekspertlik yondashuvlarini kuchaytirish masalalariga alohida e’tibor qaratildi.

Shuningdek, xalqaro va mintaqaviy xavfsizlik, barqaror rivojlanish, samarali davlat boshqaruvi, zamonaviy xavf-xatarlar hamda davlat xizmatchilari va ekspertlarning salohiyatini oshirish yo‘nalishlarida qo‘shma tashabbuslarni ilgari surish imkoniyatlari yuzasidan fikr almashdik. Mazkur yo‘nalishlar GCSP faoliyatining diplomatik muloqot, ijrochi ta’lim hamda tadqiqot va siyosiy tavsiyalar kabi asosiy yo‘nalishlari bilan hamohangdir.

Bunday hamkorlik O‘zbekistonda amalga oshirilayotgan islohotlarni xalqaro ekspertlar bilan muhokama qilish, ilg‘or tajribalarni o‘rganish hamda “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasini amalga oshirish jarayoniga yangi bilim va yondashuvlarni jalb etish uchun muhim imkoniyat yaratadi.

Uchrashuv yakunida ikki tashkilot o‘rtasidagi muloqotni davom ettirish va hamkorlikni aniq amaliy loyihalar bilan mustahkamlashdan o‘zaro manfaatdorlik bildirildi.

25/09/2026

JENEVA UNIVERSITETI BILAN HAMKORLIKNING YANGI ISTIQBOLLARI

23-sentabr kuni Jeneva universitetida Global tadqiqotlar instituti direktor o‘rinbosari, professor Frederik Espozito bilan uchrashuv o‘tkazdik. Muloqotda, shuningdek, Global ekologik siyosat dasturi direktor o‘rinbosari Dr. Alexandre Hedjazi hamda Jeneva universiteti huzuridagi Boshqaruv, e’tiqod va qadriyatlar markazi asoschisi, Jeneva ma’naviy murojaat uyushmasi vitse-prezidenti Ventzeslav Sabev ishtirok etdi.

Uchrashuv davomida geosiyosiy jarayonlar, O‘rta yo‘lak, iqlim o‘zgarishi, Orol dengizi muammosi, barqaror rivojlanish, korrupsiyaga qarshi kurash, davlat boshqaruvini raqamlashtirish, ma’lumotlar almashinuvi, shaharsozlik, COP31 va sun’iy intellekt infratuzilmasi kabi dolzarb masalalar yuzasidan fikr almashdik.

Alohida ta’kidlanganidek, O‘zbekistonda amalga oshirilayotgan islohotlarda fuqarolik jamiyati institutlari va ekspertlik hamjamiyatini keng jalb etish, qarorlarni ilmiy-tahliliy xulosalar va ochiq muloqot asosida qabul qilishga katta e’tibor qaratilmoqda.

Muloqotning muhim qismi “Taraqqiyot strategiyasi” markazi va Jeneva universiteti o‘rtasida amaliy hamkorlikni yo‘lga qo‘yishga bag‘ishlandi. Xususan, o‘zaro anglashuv memorandumini ishlab chiqish, “O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining ustuvor yo‘nalishlari bo‘yicha qo‘shma tadqiqotlar olib borish, ayniqsa yashil taraqqiyot va suv resurslari masalalarini o‘rganish, shuningdek, davlat xizmatchilari uchun maxsus ta’lim dasturlarini tashkil etish imkoniyatlari muhokama qilindi.

Shuningdek, Jeneva universiteti vakillarining Toshkentga tashrifini tashkil etish va kelgusi akademik yil davomida qo‘shma ekspertlik tadbirini o‘tkazish masalalari ko‘rib chiqildi.

“O‘zbekiston — 2030” strategiyasining 100 ta maqsadi aniq va o‘lchanadigan natijalarga yo‘naltirilgan. Biz uchun ushbu islohotlarning xalqaro akademik va ekspertlik hamjamiyati tomonidan mustaqil va xolis tahlil qilinishi muhim. Uchrashuv yakunida hamkorlikni aniq amaliy loyihalar asosida davom ettirish bo‘yicha kelishib oldik.

Changing economic priorities of Uzbekistan reshape its engagement with the CIS For Uzbekistan, Commonwealth of Independe...
24/09/2026

Changing economic priorities of Uzbekistan reshape its engagement with the CIS

For Uzbekistan, Commonwealth of Independent States primarily represent a set of practical mechanisms, including the free trade regime, mutual recognition of documents and standards, visa-free movement of citizens, and agreements on transit and transportation. These mechanisms have a direct, everyday impact on business operations and household incomes.
Speaking at the CIS Summit in Dushanbe in October 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev described the member states as “our natural partners.” In this context, cooperation within the CIS is not viewed as an alternative to other foreign policy priorities, but rather as one of the pillars of the country’s economic diplomacy.
In 2025, Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 7.7%, while exports reached $33.8 billion, an increase of 24%. CIS countries accounted for approximately one-third of Uzbekistan’s foreign trade. This share has remained broadly unchanged for several years, despite the rapid expansion of economic ties with other regions.
In October 2024, trade turnover within the Commonwealth was reported to have increased by 16%. By the end of the year, it had grown by a further 11%. In 2025, it reached $27.4 billion, representing an increase of more than 20%.
This stability is driven not by the inertia of established ties, but by rational economic considerations. CIS markets are familiar to Uzbek businesses: standards are broadly comparable, language barriers are limited, logistics networks are well established, and goods enjoy duty-free access. With a combined population of approximately 250 million, the Commonwealth generates sustained demand for fruit and vegetables, textiles, automobiles, electrical equipment, chemicals and services. For companies entering foreign markets for the first time, the CIS represents the least risky destination.
This is precisely why the Commonwealth serves as a launchpad for Uzbek businesses. Having gained export experience in neighbouring countries, companies are better positioned to enter more complex markets. Russia and Kazakhstan remain Uzbekistan’s principal partners within the CIS, followed by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Belarus. At the same time, China - which has become Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner - Türkiye and the Republic of Korea are also among the country’s top five trading partners, confirming the multi-vector nature of Uzbekistan’s foreign economic policy.
Importantly, Uzbekistan ceased to be a passive participant in the Commonwealth long ago. Since 2017, it has restored its active presence within CIS institutions, joined more than twenty sectoral bodies and signed 24 multilateral agreements.
This policy culminated in Uzbekistan’s first chairmanship of the CIS in 2020. The guiding objective established at the time to “gradually advance cooperation to a qualitatively new level” - has shaped the country’s subsequent engagement within the Commonwealth.
At CIS summits, the President of Uzbekistan has put forward more than one hundred initiatives, most of them designed to address specific barriers. Tashkent has consistently advocated the operation of the free trade area “without exemptions or restrictions,” the expansion of green corridors, the development of e-commerce and broader access to public procurement.
In 2025, the President stressed that “it is important to expand mutual market access in our countries.” He proposed establishing a rapid-response mechanism under the CIS Economic Council to address changes in market conditions and called for the accelerated removal of technical barriers.

This is directly linked to Uzbekistan’s national objective of increasing exports to $67 billion by 2030. Harmonised requirements, digital document exchange, mutual recognition of certificates and faster border clearance can transform geographical proximity into a sustainable competitive advantage for Uzbek goods. This is particularly important for small businesses, for which the cost of administrative procedures often exceeds the tariffs themselves.
The significance of the Commonwealth, however, extends beyond trade flows to include labour migration. Remittances, which amounted to approximately $18.9 billion in 2025, account for a substantial share of household incomes. Their geographical distribution is becoming more diversified: between 2022 and 2025, remittances from Kazakhstan increased by 24.5%, from the United States by 50%, from the Republic of Korea by 2.1 times, from Türkiye by 2.5 times and from the European Union by 2.4 times. As a result, migration-related income is becoming more resilient to fluctuations in individual labour markets.
The quality of this process depends on an effective legal framework. As early as 2020, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed creating a unified mechanism for recognising migrant workers’ documents and developing a programme for their social and legal protection. The economic rationale is clear: recognised qualifications and transparent employment arrangements increase workers’ earnings and allow them to bring accumulated skills and expertise back into the national economy.
These efforts are complemented by humanitarian cooperation, which helps build the human capital required for future development. In 2025, Uzbekistan initiated a new agreement on the recognition of diplomas and proposed holding a CIS Youth Forum in Khiva, together with the establishment of a Youth Innovation Laboratory. For a country where the average age of the population is approximately 30 and the population increases by around 750,000 people annually, access to educational and professional opportunities has direct economic significance.
The physical connectivity of markets is equally important. Uzbekistan is landlocked and separated from seaports by the territory of at least two countries. Logistics costs therefore have a direct impact on the competitiveness of its exports. Since most traditional transport routes pass through CIS countries, simplifying transit and harmonising customs procedures is not a matter of protocol, but a practical necessity measured in delivery times and production costs.
This issue has been a consistent feature of Tashkent’s proposals since 2020. In 2025, the President proposed establishing information and logistics centres integrated with all modes of transport, called for greater private investment in infrastructure and suggested holding a CIS Conference on Public-Private Partnerships in Transport in Uzbekistan.
The benefits of these measures extend beyond transit revenues. Linking the North–South and East–West corridors and securing access to ports on the Baltic, Black and Caspian seas would diversify transport routes and transform Uzbekistan into a connecting hub between Eurasian markets.
Reliable logistics also attracts warehouses, dry ports and export-oriented production facilities along major transport routes, thereby contributing to the development of the country’s regions.
Energy cooperation also deserves particular attention. CIS countries are connected through shared gas and electricity networks. For an economy with rapidly growing demand, this provides greater energy security and access to infrastructure whose reconstruction from scratch would require enormous investment. Uzbekistan is implementing programmes with its partners in conventional and renewable power generation, including the construction of a nuclear power plant. In 2025, it also proposed a Programme for the Innovative Development of the CIS Energy Sector. Similar considerations apply to food security, as a common market helps mitigate seasonal fluctuations in supply.
The existing foundation creates opportunities for more advanced forms of cooperation. The principal source of future growth lies in moving beyond a predominantly trade-based model towards deeper industrial cooperation, since Uzbekistan’s exports to CIS countries still largely consist of primary processed goods.
The objective of the next stage is to create greater added value within Uzbekistan—that is, to transform the nature of economic relations. Several of Tashkent’s proposals serve this purpose, including a Comprehensive Programme of Industrial Cooperation, the idea of placing joint production at the centre of the Commonwealth’s agenda, measures to encourage mutual investment, and a CIS Innovative Industry Forum to be held alongside INNOPROM. The President of Uzbekistan has noted the existence of “numerous examples of successful industrial cooperation.” The main task now is to replicate these successes on a broader scale.
Several promising areas are already apparent.
First, the agro-industrial sector: deep processing of fruit and vegetables, storage facilities, and cooperation in seed production and veterinary services. Uzbekistan possesses a substantial raw material base, while its partners have processing and packaging technologies that can increase the final value of products.
Second, mechanical engineering, electrical equipment and construction materials. Uzbekistan is interested not so much in importing finished products as in establishing highly localised joint ventures. This format facilitates technology transfer, engineering skills development and job creation—benefits that cannot be achieved through conventional supply arrangements alone. Promising areas include components for transport equipment and agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and advanced materials.
Third, digital solutions and payment infrastructure capable of reducing the costs of cross-border trade. Following the Artificial Intelligence Forum held in Samarkand in August 2025, Uzbekistan proposed an action plan to deepen cooperation on digitalisation and establish a CIS Venture Platform.
The necessary financial resources are available. According to the CIS Executive Committee, citing UNCTAD data, foreign direct investment inflows into CIS countries amounted to $23.2 billion in 2023, while outward investment reached almost $32.5 billion. To channel these resources into production, Uzbekistan proposed a roadmap to support special economic and industrial zones, along with measures to facilitate industrial cooperation projects. The interregional level is particularly promising, as it allows the practical needs of businesses to be identified more quickly.
It is also important that such projects extend beyond the bilateral dimension. Uzbekistan is located at the heart of Central Asia and maintains well-established ties with all its neighbours. A joint venture based in Uzbekistan gains direct access to a rapidly growing regional market of approximately 85 million people—a compelling argument in favour of localising production in the country.
Such cooperation is becoming a natural driver of the objectives set out in the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy: accelerated industrialisation, export growth and higher household incomes. The Commonwealth remains one of the practical instruments for achieving these goals—not the only one, but one that is operational and well established. As Uzbekistan’s economy becomes more sophisticated, its expectations of the CIS are also evolving—from basic market access to the development of integrated production chains.
This transition represents the principal opportunity for future cooperation. Dynamic economic growth, an expanding domestic market and an active investment policy provide a solid foundation for a new quality of engagement. As President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasised, the decisions being taken should serve “the well-being and prosperity of our countries and peoples.” This remains the key measure of the effectiveness of multilateral partnership.

Alexey Kustov,
Chief Research Fellow
Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies
under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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