TASHKENT, January 1. /Dunyo IA/. Acting Country Director of the Asian Development Bank in Uzbekistan, Head of Country Operations, Mirzo Iskandar Ghulamov, commented to Dunyo Information Agency on the key provisions of the Address by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan.

Mirzo Iskandar Ghulamov noted that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highly values and fully supports the strategic priorities outlined in the President’s Address.

According to him, sustained economic growth, rising GDP and exports, as well as the strengthening of foreign exchange reserves, contribute to enhanced macro-financial stability and improved investment attractiveness. “These achievements create a solid foundation for Uzbekistan’s long-term and sustainable development, which is fully aligned with the core objectives of ADB’s country strategy,” he stressed.

Particular emphasis was placed on the significant reduction in poverty and unemployment. Over the past year, the poverty rate declined from 8.9 percent to 5.8 percent, while unemployment fell from 5.5 percent to 4.9 percent, lifting approximately 1.5 million people out of poverty. Mr. Ghulamov described this breakthrough as having a multifaceted positive impact, not only fostering inclusive growth and social stability in Uzbekistan, but also contributing to broader stability and development across Central Asia.

The ADB representative also welcomed the strong focus on human capital development. He underlined that the training of qualified personnel, the introduction of modern technologies, and the digitalization of public administration are critical drivers of competitiveness in today’s global economy. In this context, he highlighted ADB’s active promotion of the STEM model—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—within education and professional training programs. “STEM disciplines form the backbone of innovation-driven growth and prepare a workforce capable of thriving in high-technology sectors”, - he said, adding that integrating the STEM approach into Uzbekistan’s education and skills system is a key catalyst for accelerating the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.

Ghulamov further commended Uzbekistan’s progress in the “green transition”. He noted that, for the first time, renewable energy accounted for 30 percent of total electricity generation this year, demonstrating the country’s strong commitment to sustainable development. In response, the Asian Development Bank plans to expand its support for scaling up renewable energy capacity, strengthening and modernizing power grids, and improving energy efficiency in public buildings.

He concluded by reaffirming ADB’s readiness to continue close cooperation with Uzbekistan in advancing inclusive growth, green development and long-term economic resilience, in line with the priorities set out by the country’s leadership.

The Asian Development Bank acknowledges the country’s efforts to strengthen good-neighborly relations and advance regional integration. Uzbekistan is emerging as an important hub for dialogue and a platform for addressing key issues of sustainable development in Central Asia. The ADB Annual Meeting scheduled for May 2026 in Samarkand will be a landmark event, underscoring the country’s growing role in regional and global cooperation frameworks. This event will create new opportunities for knowledge exchange, investment attraction, and joint implementation of projects aimed at sustainable growth.

The “Year of Mahalla and Whole Society Development” initiative deserves special recognition. We view it as a move from local to global: local communities become the core of transformation, the “atoms” of sustainable development that drive the progress of the entire country. This approach aligns closely with the ADB’s strategy of supporting inclusive and sustainable development models. Accordingly, the ADB plans to launch projects that support accelerated urbanization, improved urban water supply, and the development of modern urban public transport infrastructure.

The second strategic direction highlighted by the President is steering the economy onto an innovative path. The adoption of digital solutions, development of artificial intelligence, creation of technology parks, and support for startups form the foundation for a technological breakthrough. The ADB views these steps as a crucial element of sustainable development, capable of increasing productivity, diversifying the economy, and integrating Uzbekistan into global value chains.

The Asian Development Bank intends to continue close cooperation with Uzbekistan, supporting reforms and projects aimed at improving the well-being of the population and strengthening the role of the country’s economy at both regional and global levels.