As a rising star in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is taking bold steps in sustainability, governance, education and international leadership, reflecting a dynamic transformation that few could have predicted just a decade ago.
Uzbekistan’s Strategy 2030 is the plan behind it all and includes five core pillars: environmental sustainability, administrative reform, social transformation, national security and forward-looking vision. Strategy 2030, the brainchild of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has become a blueprint to guide all parts of Uzbekistan’s government, with economic goals balanced with environmental and social needs.
advertisementEconomy: strong growth and global recognition
According to the International Monetary Fund, Uzbekistan’s GDP is expected to exceed 120 billion euros in 2024. It was a landmark year for the Uzbek economy, with exports exceeding 24 billion euros and gold and foreign exchange reserves reaching 38 billion euros.
At the Third International Investment Forum held in Tashkent, contracts worth 25.5 billion euros were signed, increasing the flow of foreign investment. Infrastructure and energy development, the creation of 1.5 million jobs, and progress in WTO accession negotiations with 22 countries, including the United States and China, are the main drivers of sustainable growth. Much of the growth and investment is due to the Mirziyoyev government’s commitment to a more open economy and a significantly improved business environment.
Environment: On track for a greener future
Over the past five years, 16 large-scale solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3,500 megawatts or 10 billion kilowatt hours have been commissioned in Uzbekistan. As a result, the share of “green energy” in the country’s energy mix rose to 16% this year, a significant step towards the goal of 40% by 2030.
The national project Yasirmakhon (‘Greenhouse’) has already transformed the country, with 138 million trees planted, a 10,000 hectare ‘green belt’ created and 257 new parks opened. I did. The My Garden initiative, which provided plots of land to 10,000 residents, not only improved the environment but also breathed new life into local entrepreneurship.
International experts have praised Uzbekistan’s efforts to combat desertification, a major threat to food production and rural livelihoods. Next year has been declared the year of environmental protection.
advertisementWater resource management: innovation for sustainability
The rational use of water is a key issue for a country that consumes more than 50 billion cubic meters of water annually. In 2024, the introduction of water-saving technologies made it possible to optimize irrigation on an area of 1.8 million hectares.
Social reform: Supporting people is the basis of progress
The state has stepped up social assistance to cover 2.2 million households and introduced programs to support citizens with disabilities, increase employment and provide state-of-the-art prosthetic limbs. A network of World Bank-supported Innovative Social Protection Systems for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (INSON) social service centers was also created.
cultural revival
President Mirziyoyev elevated the issue of preservation, research and dissemination of the country’s cultural heritage to the status of national policy.
In 2024, the Foundation for the Development of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan has organized a number of important events that highlight the rich cultural heritage and the country’s international role in the field of arts and culture. In April 2024, the exhibition “Uzbekistan: Desert Vanguard” was held in the Italian cities of Florence and Venice.
From August 23 to 26, the 8th International Conference of the World Association for the Research, Preservation and Promotion of Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage will be held under the motto “Cultural Heritage” in cooperation with the Uzbekistan Islamic Civilization Center. It was successfully held in Tashkent and Samarkand. The Great Ancestors – The Foundations of the Third Renaissance”. In September, the unique exhibition “Silk Road” was held at the British Museum in London, attracting great interest from the international community.
In September, the British Museum in London opened a unique exhibition simply called “The Silk Road”, showcasing some of the most unusual artifacts yet to be seen from Uzbekistan. This exhibition aroused great interest in the world community.
Youth and sport: Inspiring victories
2024 was a landmark year for sports in Uzbekistan. At the Paris Olympics, the Uzbekistan national team won 13 medals (8 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze) and placed 13th out of 206 countries, the best result ever. Uzbekistan’s boxing team won five gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal, taking first place in the overall medal standings.
These victories were the result of many years of commitment to the development of the sport, the creation of modern training centers and the country’s support for young talents. The athletes not only strengthened Uzbekistan’s position on the international stage, but also served as an inspiration to young athletes as a whole.
The country’s youth continue to actively contribute to economic and social development. Currently, 22.9 percent of Uzbekistan’s entrepreneurs are under 30 years old, including 3,500 farmers and 7,800 artisans.
Digitalization: A step towards the future
The Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 program is accelerating the country’s technological development. The export of IT services generated revenues of €326 million and the IT Park became home to more than 1,000 start-up companies. The full digitalization of elections through the “E-Saylov” system for parliamentary and local elections in 2024 has taken the transparency of the democratic process to a new level.
advertisementAccording to the 2024 World Innovation Index, Uzbekistan’s economy currently ranks 10th among middle-income countries, up from 133rd place a decade ago.
education and innovation
The higher education enrollment rate will rapidly increase from 9% in 2016 to 42% in 2023, and the goal is to reach 50% by 2030.
This leap forward is supported by significant government spending on education, which will reach the equivalent of €4.5 billion in 2023, equivalent to around 44 percent of annual social spending. This investment launched a myriad of new initiatives, including the establishment of international university branches and scholarships specifically for women, expanding access to quality education and raising the international rankings of Uzbekistan’s universities.
Education reform is also closely intertwined with the country’s digital goals. The university now offers specialized courses in artificial intelligence, data science, and blockchain technology to prepare young generations for a competitive global environment.
