President Mirziyoyev welcomed Sitharaman and mentioned that India and Uzbekistan share a profound historical connection…reports Asian Lite News
India’s Finance Nirmala Sitharaman has called on President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on the sidelines of the 9th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of AIIB, in Samarkand, yesterday.
The finance minister has conveyed warm greetings to H.E. Mr. Mirziyoyev on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also thanked Uzbekistan for participating in the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit held in August 2024.
President Mirziyoyev welcomed Sitharaman and mentioned that India and Uzbekistan share a profound historical connection and assured of Uzbekistan’s support to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The Finance Minister informed Mirziyoyev of the very productive meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and with Trade, Investment and Industry Minister for fostering collaboration in new areas like digital technologies, fintech, AI, Renewable Energy, civil application of nuclear energy, healthcare, pharma sector, DPI, cooperation in rare earth and long term procurement of uranium and fertilisers.
Sitharaman suggested to Mirziyoyev that as tourism between India and Uzbekistan continues to increase, bilateral discussion on cooperation in fintech, a cross-border real-time payments system will be of great convenience to students, tourists and businesses on both sides.
Recognising the potential for further enhancing bilateral cooperation, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev appreciated India’s proposals to collaborate in new areas such as digital technologies, renewable energy in addition to strengthening traditional areas of cooperation.
The finance minister also informed to Mirziyoyev that India appreciates Uzbekistan’s efforts towards sustainable development, and both nations can explore ways to cooperate on green technologies and climate action initiatives.
Sitharaman had earlier met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Jamshid Khodjaev.
The two ministers discussed Strategic Partnership in the areas of, IT, education, digital connectivity, renewable energy, civil applications of nuclear energy and healthcare, ayurvedic medicine, and pharmaceuticals.
Highlighting the phenomenal growth in digital payments ecosystem in India, the Union Finance Minister offered the possibility of Uzbek fintech firms’ collaboration with Indian firms to develop innovative products.
Discussions were also held on the potential investment opportunities in IFSC Gift City.
Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Khodjaev assured long-term cooperation with India in various sectors to enhance trade and business opportunities.
Earlier, Nirmala Sitharaman met with Uzbekistan Trade Minister Laziz Kudratov in Samarkand, and discussed areas of mutual interest in renewable energy, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals, aiming to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.
Sitharaman embarked on a five-day official visit to Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
During the visit, Sitharaman will meet with her counterparts from Uzbekistan, Qatar, China, and AIIB President, the Ministry of Finance had said in a statement.
India is the second largest shareholder of the bank. The multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of important global issues relevant to the development agenda.
The meeting, scheduled to be held on April 15 in Tashkent, will gather ministers of foreign affairs from the GCC and Central Asian countries…reports Asian Lite News
The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Albudaiwi, met Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov in the capital Tashkent on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed preparations for the second ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the GCC and Central Asian countries.
The meeting, scheduled to be held on April 15 in Tashkent, will gather ministers of foreign affairs from the GCC and Central Asian countries.
Albudaiwi said GCC countries attach great importance to their relations with Central Asian nations, stressing that holding the joint ministerial meeting less than a year since their first summit is a testament to these countries’ keenness to advance relations at all levels and in all fields.
According to Albudaiwi, discussions are expected to focus on political coordination and collaboration in investment and economy, mainly digital economy, and green energy security and use.
Earlier, Faisal Al-Rawas, chairman of the Federation of the GCC Chambers, said the strategy is focused on developing agricultural, livestock, and fishery projects to achieve added value to the food industries, enabling the countries to achieve food security and sustainability for their citizens, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This comes amid challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, natural disasters, and population growth, prompting GCC governments to implement strict policies to limit the export of agricultural and livestock products to achieve self-sufficiency.
Al-Rawas also drew attention to the fact that the GCC countries have launched several initiatives, projects, and incentives to boost investment in the agriculture and livestock sector.
He stressed the need for the private sector to participate in developing the strategy in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries as well as supportive service sectors to increase food products and commodities.
The GCC official pointed out that the federation has conducted studies to enhance integration in achieving food security, indicating that the added value of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the Gulf economy amounted to about $30.5 billion.
The volume of investment in food technology in the GCC countries amounted to about $3.8 billion, and the contribution of the agriculture and fisheries sector to the gross domestic product reached 1.8 percent.
Moreover, the number of Gulf companies in the agricultural and livestock sector has grown to 20 percent.
In February, Juan Carlos Motamayor, CEO of the food company Topian, a NEOM subsidiary, told Arab News that Saudi Arabia is set to become a pioneer in food security as it develops systems and solutions that can be rolled out “across the planet.”
He highlighted that this includes introducing new technologies urgently needed to feed humanity today and in the coming decades.
This measure is considered an important step towards enhancing cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, culture, education and other areas of common interest….reports Asian Lite News
As part of the continued enhancing and strengthening of bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Uzbekistan and achieving the common interests of the two peoples, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of Special and Mission passport, as well as ordinary passport.
Under this memorandum, UAE nationals who hold Special and Mission passports and holders of ordinary passports, valid for a period of not less than six months, are exempted from a visa to enter Uzbekistan (instead of applying for an electronic visa which was applicable before) and can stay there for a period of up to 30 days per visit, and citizens of Uzbekistan who hold biometric passports (international passports allowing them to travel abroad or domestic passports to return to Uzbekistan only) are also exempt from a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates, starting 15th January, 2024.
Khaled Abdullah Belhoul, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Abdulaziz Akkulov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UAE, signed the memorandum, which comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and Uzbekistan and facilitating movement between the two countries. This measure is considered an important step towards enhancing cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, culture, education and other areas of common interest.
The two sides discussed trade, transit and economic relations as well as cooperation in railways, transport, the extraction of mines…reports Asian Lite News
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov has called for peace and stability in Afghanistan, saying it is important for the region, TOLO News reported.
TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul.
Kuchkarov visited Afghanistan on Sunday and met with several Taliban officials including the Taliban’s appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce.
“The ministers of agriculture and water resources of Uzbekistan are among the delegation and want to use their experiences in Afghanistan,” Kuchkarov told a gathering held at Afghanistan’s Presidential Palace.
The Taliban-appointed deputy PM’s office said that the two sides discussed trade, transit and economic relations as well as cooperation in railways, transport, the extraction of mines, water management and the facilitation of educational opportunities for Afghan youth.
“The visits of the senior delegation show that the contacts between the two sides are strengthening. We hope we have good improvements in this meeting, particularly in the field of trade and transit,” Mullah Baradar said, as per Tolo News.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, said that efforts are underway to increase trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to USD 3 billion and that the Hairatan port will be operating 24/7 from next month.
“The decision has been taken that our trade will be boosted from USD 600 million to USD 3 billion because the President has said to increase the trade rate to USD 2 billion but we are happy that we will increase it to USD 3 billion,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the officials of the two countries to boost facilities for the traders on both sides.
“There was no security before in Afghanistan. There was only poppy cultivation… Afghanistan is now a good field for investment,” said Mohammad Younus Momand, first deputy of the ACCI.
An exhibition of Uzbekistani products was also inaugurated in the presence of the delegation in Chaman Hozori Park in Kabul. (ANI)
Director of Uzbekistan Post Alisher Faizullayev, along with Secretary (West) Verma released a commemorative postal stamp on India’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav….reports Asian Lite News
The 16th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Uzbekistan saw the two sides discussing the current status of ties between them as well as attempts to enhance bilateral relations.
According to information released by the MEA on Tuesday (August 8, 2023), they discussed issues of priority, like connectivity, bilateral trade, and cooperation within the framework of India-Central Asia partnership. India and Uzbekistan also considered regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The meeting, held in Tashkent on August 7, 2023, was co-chaired by Secretary (West) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Sanjay Verma and Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhromjon Aloyev. Additionally, the Secretary (West) called on the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. They strategized on the India-Uzbekistan economic and defence partnership.
Director of Uzbekistan Post Alisher Faizullayev, along with Secretary (West) Verma released a commemorative postal stamp on India’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
An Indian cultural finale was held in the amphitheatre of the Eternal City of Samarkand, where artists from the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture, Tashkent, and Uzbekistan’s Haavas group entertained the audience. Secretary (West) was the Chief Guest of the event. This was done to mark the formal closing of India’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
In recent years, India has focused on building stronger links with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan.
The 1st India-Central Asia Summit held in January 2022. Hosted by India in a vvirtual format, it was attended by Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. This first India-Central Asia coincided with the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Central Asian countries.
The leaders discussed far-reaching proposals to further cooperation in areas of trade and connectivity, and development cooperation, in addition to defence and security.
During a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022, India and Uzbekistan discussed entering into long-term arrangements to promote trade and investment. Connectivity was considered key to unlock the potential in this regard, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had said.
Uzbekistan is India’s strategic partner and Mirziyoyev has been the architect for closer Indo-Uzbek relations, writes Aditi Bhaduri
The re-election of Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev in polls held on July 9 is of significance for both Uzbekistan and India. Though there had been some surprise at the snap elections called within two years of presidential elections held in 2019, the reasons are sound enough.
Mirziyoyev has been a pioneer of major economic and social reforms since he took over the cudgel in 2016 from his predecessor Islam Karimov.
As Uzbekistan came into its own, Mirziyoyev embarked on a path of gradually opening up the country. There have been major economic reforms to attract trade and investment, important for a country sitting on piles of natural resources but double landlocked for whom connectivity is an issue, promote entrepreneurship, create an echo-system to encourage startups, and pitch the country at a manufacturing hub. At the same time the government is also guaranteeing private property, and opening up the country socially and culturally. And the reforms are bearing fruits.
For instance, one million Uzbeks were brought out of poverty because of vocational training and skill development at the mahalla or grassroots level. According to a survey conducted by the Center of Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), the Statistics Agency under the President and the World Bank, by the end of 2022, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan decreased by 3 per cent compared to the previous year and amounted to 14.1 per cent whereas in 2021 it was 17 per cent. If Uzbekistan ranked 93rd in the Global Innovation Index in 2020, then in 2022 it ranked 82nd. The country boasts a literacy rate of more than 93 per cent and in the Social Progress Index, which takes into account the basic needs, well-being and opportunities for human development, Uzbekistan rose by 11 positions from 2020 to 2022 and took 91st place out of 169 countries, overtaking China, which took 94th place.
The recent constitutional changes, endorsed by a country-wide referendum, seek to make Uzbekistan a welfare state. The new constitution proclaims “Uzbekistan is a sovereign, democratic, rule-of-law, social and secular state with a republican form of government.” With the economy growing because of the reforms, there is also more fund allocation for social and public welfare. Top of Form Mirziyoyev’s re-election is, therefore, significant as it reflects endorsement for and continuity in the reforms and initiatives that he has introduced, which can now be expected to continue uninterrupted for the next seven years.
The elections took place in a backdrop of openness and transparency, here all political parties and their candidates were allowed equal and sufficient time and space to communicate with the people about their agendas and programs. Election observers from more than 40 different countries including India, whose Election Commissioner Mr. Anup Chandra Pandey was also part of the observation mission, together with observer missions from organizations like the OSCE and SCO were present across the country which has an almost 20 million strong electorate.
Why are these elections significant for India?
India has identified Central Asia as a strategically important region. In the region Uzbekistan is the most populous and important country. Uzbekistan is India’s strategic partner and Mirziyoyev has been the architect for closer Indo-Uzbek relations. An admirer of both India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mirziyoyev has visited India twice, has held a virtual summit with Modi, and hosted him last year when Uzbekistan hosted the SCO summit of heads of state in Samarkand.
Trying to chart an independent course of development for Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev looks to India for expertise and know-how, capacity building and skill development.
For instance, education is a priority for the government and it is keen to invite experts from across the globe. India is one of the countries present in this sector. It has opened an IT park and campuses of Amity University and Sharda University are fully functioning in Uzbekistan now. It is similar for the health sector, another high priority area for the Uzbek government. Thousands of Uzbeks travel to India every year for treatment and Medanta and Akash Hospitals have opened up their branches in Tashkent. A number of Indian pharmaceutical companies have opened manufacturing lines in that country. Impressed by Modi’s “Fit India” campaign Mirziyoyev assigned his health minister to travel to India to learn more about the campaign to emulate it back home. Both countries are working to take bilateral trade to $ 1 billion.
Bottom of Form
With Mirziyoyev’s reelection, reforms in Uzbekistan will be able to run their course and thus relations with India can be expected to continue along the trajectory they have till now.
Sandwiched between Russia and China, Uzbekistan, as much as its geography allows, has tried to steer an autonomous path for itself. While economically linked to Russia, it is neither a part of the Moscow-led military alliance Collective Security Treaty Organisation, nor the Eurasian Economic Union. It tries to pursue what it calls a “multi-vectoral” policy, which corresponds to India’s multi-aligned policy. Not wanting to exchange Soviet dominance with a Chinese one, many Uzbek analysts believe that India should play a bigger role in the region. The gradual opening up and emocratization of Uzbek polity also heralds closer relations with India as Uzbekistan can learn from India’s experience. Delegates from Uzbekistan have been participating in the International Election Visitors Programmes (IEVP) of the Election Commission of India (ECI) organised during elections and officials from Uzbekistan have been attending training programmes at ECI under the ITEC programme.
With India seeking to expand its footprint in the region, Uzbekistan offers a valuable partnership, becoming the foothold from where India can access the other markets and countries of the region. But first, a congratulatory message to President Mirziyoyev from India is in order.
Urging a united fight against terrorism, PM Modi said that it has become a major threat to regional and global peace and dealing with the challenge requires decisive action, regardless of its form or manifestation…reports Asian Lite News
On July 4, India convened the 23rd Summit of the Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in a virtual format. It was a first since the country became a full-fledged member of the organisation in 2017.
All member states participated in the meeting which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emamoli Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan. Besides, Iran was admitted to the fold as a full member, while Belarus signed the memorandum of for its membership.
New Delhi, July 04 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi at SCO Summit via video conferencing, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran President Ebrahim Raisi and others also seen. (ANI Photo)
Urging a united fight against terrorism, PM Modi said that it has become a major threat to regional and global peace and dealing with the challenge requires decisive action, regardless of its form or manifestation.
Alluding to Pakistan, also a member-state, the Prime Minister said, “Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies, provide shelter to terrorists. SCO should not hesitate to criticize such nations. There should be no place for double standards on such serious matters.
“We need to enhance mutual cooperation in dealing with terror financing as well. The RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) mechanism of SCO has played a significant role in this regard. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth,” he emphasized as Shehbaz Sharif and Xi Jinping gave a stone-faced stare.
While all other participants at the summit also touched on the threat of terrorism, it was Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev who made the most pronounced articulation about the dangers represented by terrorism and the importance of dealing and countering religious radicalism. In this he echoed the sentiments of PM Modi when he spoke about the need to step up the activities of the SCO (RATS).
Taking further his vision to tackle terrorism in the regional and a global level President Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan considers it necessary to speed up the preparation and adoption of major multilateral documents such as the Convention on Cooperation against Cybercrime and the Joint Program to Combat Extremist Ideology. He emphasized the need to accelerate the adoption of these important multilateral instruments and addressing the root causes of the growth of terrorism in the world. He said, the practical implementation of these documents should become an adequate response to the challenges of radicalization and neutralize the attempts of destructive forces to spread their ideology, especially among the youth.
This is significant and not without reason. Like India, Uzbekistan too has been a victim of cross-border terrorism and has had to fight a long and hard battle against jihadist and radical groups like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Hizb-ut-Tahrir. It is, for instance, not coincidental that the SCO’s main institution the RATS is based in Tashkent.
Taking on the cudgel from his predecessor the late President Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev has tried to strike a balance through a slew of initiatives to develop and modernise Uzbekistan while also accommodating people’s aspirations. For instance, understanding the need to nip radicalism in the bud, Uzbekistan was declared a “secular” state just as the Taliban ensconced themselves in Kabul in August 2021.
Under Mirziyoyev’s watch, institutions such as parliament (Oli majlis), the judiciary and the press have been strengthened. So has grassroots organisations like the Mohalla system, a lot like our panchayat system. Simultaneously, there have been reforms in the economic sphere. The economy has opened up, foreign investors have been aggressively wooed, the economy has grown by 24 percent, and industrial growth by 34 percent. Foreign investments have increased exponentially in Uzbekistan; tourism has been aggressively promoted, making Uzbekistan one of the world’s top tourist destinations. This has resulted in formidable job creation.
This is an important factor in countering radicalism. Uzbekistan has a young population and the government’s focus on education and job creation are laudable.
Understanding the importance of the “human touch”, Mirziyoyev’s leadership helped put down the unrest in the country’s Karakalpakstan by using both the carrot and the stick. It has also reached out to the windows and children of Uzbek citizens who had joined ISIS and/or other radical organizations in Iraq and Syria and helped in their repatriation to Uzbekistan and rehabilitation into society through deradicalization programs. In all of this Uzbekistan is an important partner for India.
Radicalization and terrorism lie at the core of the foundation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This found reflection in the speeches of Prime Minister Modi and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The joint statement on radicalization adopted by all members on July 4 is proof of the consensus that exists.
On Thursday, the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the Indian delegation….reports Asian Lite News
Chief Election Commissioner of India Anup Chandra Pandey and other senior delegates are in Uzbekistan to participate as observers for the July 9 presidential elections in the country, Uzbekistan Embassy in India said.
“India is going to be part of Uzbekistan’s July 9 celebration of democracy. A 20-strong delegation from India made up of well-known public figures, senior diplomats, and experts are already in Uzbekistan to take part in the Presidential elections as observers,” Uzbekistan Embassy in India said.
On Thursday, the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the Indian delegation. The meeting was attended by Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission Deputy Chairman Bakhrom Kuchkarov, Commission member Gulnoza Rakhimova, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Anup Chandra Pandey, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat.
Members of the Indian delegation were informed about the work being done to hold the elections.
According to Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission, “Indian observers emphasised that high-level information on the elections was provided to voters, and the use of biometric identification devices was piloted in several polling stations. Besides India, the international community in general has shown great interest in the elections.”
Representatives of international organisations and states of Asia, Europe, America and Africa have also landed in Uzbekistan and would be observing the July 9 polls closely. As observers of the election, the Indian delegates, along with other international and foreign observers will visit polling stations and based on their observations, will give appropriate conclusions and recommendations.
The pre-election campaign of presidential candidates took place from June 7 to July 7. Ulugbek Inoyatov from the People’s Democratic Party, Uzbekistan’s current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party, Robakhon Makhmudova from the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and Abdushukur Khamzaev from the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan are taking part in the elections.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev explained the necessity of the early presidential election and the reason for giving up the remaining three and a half years of his presidential term.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that after the adoption of the updated Basic Law, all the links of power are being reformed, and the relations and balance between them are seriously changing, the renewed Constitution poses urgent, new political and socio-economic tasks to the President, parliament, government, ministers and khokims (regional governors), and people expect significant and topical changes and reforms in all areas.
The head of the Central Asian state signed his decree on the appointment of advance polling of the President of Uzbekistan after the approval of the new version of the country’s Constitution at a nationwide referendum on April 30. (ANI)
The Saudi foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday afternoon, making his first visit to the Iranian capital in more than seven years…reports Asian Lite News
Iran and Uzbekistan on Sunday signed 10 cooperation agreements and one joint statement in Iran’s capital Tehran, according to the website of the Iranian President’s office.
The agreements, including cooperation in transportation, pharmaceutical production, insurance, trade, technology, and agriculture, were signed by the two countries’ high-ranking officials in the presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his visiting Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Xinhua news agency reported.
Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, the Uzbek President arrived in Tehran earlier on Sunday.
The trip marks the first visit by an Uzbek President to Iran since more than 20 years ago.
Raisi visited the Uzbek city of Samarkand in September 2022 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Iran and Uzbekistan signed 17 memorandums of understanding and cooperation documents during that visit.
Earlier, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that Iran faces no obstacle to expanding relations with Muslim countries.
Raisi made the remarks on Saturay in a meeting with visiting Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in the capital Tehran.
He welcomed the resumption of ties between the two “important and influential” countries of the Muslim world, saying that dialogue and interaction between Tehran and Riyadh benefit the two nations and are necessary in line with good neighborliness.
Noting that Muslim states have broadly welcomed the normalization of the Tehran-Riyadh relations, Raisi expressed confidence in overcoming difficulties and problems facing West Asia through cooperation and dialogue among regional states.
The Saudi foreign minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the resumption of the bilateral ties and his trip to Tehran, adding that enhancing cooperation with Iran is on both countries’ agenda.
He added that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered the formation of different working groups for developing relations with Iran, noting that his country is making efforts to improve bilateral ties to a strategic level.
The Saudi foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday afternoon, making his first visit to the Iranian capital in more than seven years.
Later in the day, he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, following which the two top diplomats attended a joint press conference.
At the conference, the Saudi foreign minister extended an official visit invitation on behalf of the King to Raisi.
Iran and Saudi Arabia announced in April the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric.
Recent events in Uzbekistan have shown that the country’s ability to implement fundamental reforms corresponds to the number of its young people and specialists who have access to innovative knowledge and can critically evaluate the current state of international and domestic affairs … writes Dr Akhmedov Djavakhir Djamolovich Phd, deputy executive director, “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation
The most popular and justifiable investments on a worldwide scale now are ones in “human capital,” the most important aspect in determining a country’s future viability. In other words, education is the fundamental means by which human capital is created and developed.
Recent events in Uzbekistan have shown that the country’s ability to implement fundamental reforms corresponds to the number of its young people and specialists who have access to innovative knowledge and can critically evaluate the current state of international and domestic affairs.
One of the primary goals of the Uzbek government in shaping New Uzbekistan is sending its brightest young people and most promising academics abroad to earn advanced degrees from top institutions. Thus, on September 25, 2018, the “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation was founded at the request of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the following mandates and goals:
– promote and assist the attraction of a new generation of professional, educated and modern-minded, patriotic specialists who have mastered the advanced foreign experience into a civil service;
– establish an ongoing dialogue with foreign experts and compatriots, study their proposals on the socio-economic reforms and develop recommendations for their implementation;
– wide promotion of the positive image of Uzbekistan abroad by the Foundation fellows.
Akhmedov Djavakhir Djamolovich, deputy executive director of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation
In addition to these objectives, at least twice a year, the Foundation will announce open scholarship competitions with three stages (application submission, intellectual examination, and interview), ensuring that students from all parts of the country have a fair shot at winning. Submissions can be made electronically via the Foundation’s website or by email. In the months preceding the public announcement of open scholarship competitions, the Foundation will organise a series of seminars across the country. The purpose of these seminars is to disseminate information regarding the process of the competitions to professionals working in government ministries, departments, and organisations, as well as young people living in the various regions. Upon organizing a multi-stage open competition the Foundation selects youth and specialists with high intellectual potentialfrom different regions of the country and organizes their education at prestigious universities abroad.
Statistically speaking, from 2018-2019 to 2022-23, the Foundation sponsored the education of 1,626 students at some of the world’s top universities of higher education and research in over 40 countries (among them the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, and others). There are currently 1,089 Foundation fellows actively contributing to the scientific, educational, and state sectors of Uzbekistan’s economy (2022, November 18).
J. Kaynarbekov
Currently, 478 Foundation fellows are enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programmes. There are 184 fellows studying at top universities in the United States, including Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and others; 115 at top universities in the United Kingdom, including Oxford University, Cambridge University, University College London, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Reading and others; 18 in Italy, 17 in Germany, and 10 in France, etc. To ensure safe environment for Foundation Fellows and widen partnership with their educational institutions, as well as widen the geography of opportunities for Uzbek specialists abroad, the Foundation has signed Memorandums on bilateral cooperation with more than 90 world’s prestigious universities and international educational organizations. In particular, Memorandums have been signed with more than 25 prestigious universities and international organizations in the UK such as Queen Mary University in London, York University, University of Reading, Kaplan International, Russel Group and others.
The Foundation recently announced the first open competition for this year, beginning April 1, 2023, awarding a total of 500 scholarships: 75 for bachelor’s degrees, 275 for master’s degrees, and 150 for doctoral degrees.
In terms of foundation fellows’ accomplishments and internationally recognized achievements, there are numerous to mention. A. Khudoyqulov is a laureate of the James Claydon award, given for “Best Doctoral Dissertation of the Yearin the field of Economics” at the University of Cambridge; J. Qaynarbekov is the winner in the nomination “Best Critical Article” at the US Capitol Graduate Research Summit; U. Abdullaev is the winner of the Mathematics Olympiad held at the University of Arizona, USA, and others.
In addition to studying prestigious universities, the Foundation fellows are actively promoting large-scale reforms of Uzbekistan, positive changes in the lives of our people, culture, traditions, and values of the Uzbek people among professors and students from different countries through the organization of Uzbekistan Days and Uzbek Festive events at the universities where they study.
The organisation attempts to set up online conferences with students at different stages of their study to discuss challenges they’re facing and offer timely solutions. The goal of these get-togethers is to create a friendly space where students may concentrate on their studies.
We must also note that due to this professional attitude Foundation Fellows are recommended for high leadership positions in a short time period. Particularly, Sh. Gultoraev – Deputy Chairman of the JSC “Uzsanoatkurilishbank”, D. Nafasov and Kh. Abidov – heads of departments at the Central Bank, U. Khoshimov – Head of the Department at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, A. Khudoykulov – Vice-rector of Tashkent State Institute of Law, U. Yakubkhodzhaev – Dean of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and others.
Furthermore, the state provides Foundation Fellows with additional social and financial incentives in order to provide them a “social lift.” This is due to the mechanism for the payment of supplementary allowances from the state budget to complement the official salaries of graduates of the top 500 foreign higher education institutions, which is another motivating aspect of Uzbekistan’s present youth strategy.
Another main task of the Foundation is establishing an ongoing dialogue with compatriots and experts from abroad. The electronic register of compatriots was created in 2019 by the Foundation and constantly enriched with the information of compatriots who have scientific and practical experience abroad. To date, there are more than 5,500 citizens living and working abroad are in the electronic register of the Foundation, and the representatives of state organizations have access to the registry can address our compatriots for consultancy on issues of their expertise.
The Foundation also hired 55 foreign compatriots with advanced scientific and practical experience to work at state organisations in collaboration with ministries, departments, local administrative authorities, and other state organisations.
The Foundation has taken a number of steps to ensure a continuous communication between Foundation Fellows, compatriots, and state organisations. International Forum on the topic of “New Uzbekistan – New Generation Personnel” was organised in 2020 and 2022 to offer a platform for discussion and sharing of experience with socially active Foundation’s graduate fellows and fellow citizens working successfully in foreign organisations. Foundation Fellows and compatriots had the opportunity to meet and debate the present global difficulties, their influence on the Uzbek economy, and potential solutions. It was proposed to hold such forums on an annual basis.
In addition, heads of ministries and departments routinely organize online dialogues with Foundation Fellows and compatriots in order to discuss the challenges their organizations are facing and apply their knowledge and expertise in certain fields to find innovative and advanced solutions. The state organisations also assist Foundation Fellows in their research studies related to the development of a relevant field, which is an excellent chance for fellows to learn the ins and outs of a pressing problem in the field, consult with experts on this issue at their respective educational institutions, and ultimately develop policy recommendations based on their research.
“El-yurt umidi” foundation’s 2nd open competition in 2022.
Witnessing the actual results of this policy and realizing the necessity for further development of human capital, especially of young personnel, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, during the recent visit of to Singapore, has reached important agreements on the training of leadership personnel of Uzbekistan. In particular, in cooperation with the School of Public Policy Lee Kuan Yew of the National University of Singapore an “Uzbek-Singapore Joint Educational Center” will be established at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to train civil servants included in the National Personnel Reserve with an opportunity for internships abroad for up to 6 months.
Moreover, in future in order to strengthen the knowledge gained by the Foundation Fellows after graduation in practice and establish long-term cooperation with foreign experts in their field, its planned to introduce a mechanism of up to one year internship at the international organizations such as United Nations, World Bank and others, as well as at internationally recognized companies, including companies that are in the list of “Nasdag”, “Standard&Poors 500”, “Fortune Global 500”, “Forbes Global-2000”, “Forbes Top-100 Digital Companies”.
Uzbekistan as a worthy member of the international community striving to achieve high results in all aspects, is highly appreciated by foreign partners for providing regular and stable funds from the state budget for education and accumulation of experience by young people and specialists who will become the decisive force of today and the future of the country.
Thus, reflecting on the work done on training of specialists with intellectual potential abroad within the implementation of the state youth policy, and taking into account existing and promising projects in the formation of New Uzbekistan, we can state with confidence that Uzbekistan is making every effort to create innovative and highly skilled personnel in the country in order to meet the growing need for competent specialists in various fields.
