From 1st to 6th of November 2022, representatives of ESRI met with a number of think tanks, delegations of international financial institutions in Uzbekistan and leading Uzbek universities. Upon the invitation of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, they also participated in the II Economic Forum of Uzbekistan.
Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Local and International Cooperation Natig Madatov, Research Fellow of the same department Shukur Guliyev and Research Fellow of the Department of Science and Education Elsevar Latifli represented the ESRI at the Forum.
On the first day of the visit, meetings were held with representatives of international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Uzbekistan. During the meetings, detailed information about the ESRI was provided and the parties discussed the current economic development processes unfolding in Uzbekistan and possible cooperation issues.
The meetings held with Uzbek think tanks provided a framework for future cooperation. During the meetings with the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Development Strategy Centre, the Westminster International University in Tashkent, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the Banking and Finance Academy and the Institute of Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research of the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan, topics of mutual interest and possible cooperation opportunities were reviewed and it was decided to continue contacts to further consolidate the relations. Thus, the visiting researcher program, joint research and fellowship programs, exchange of experience at the doctoral level, dual degree programs, and academic internships of students at the ESRI formed the core of the main cooperation opportunities. In addition, Uzbek colleagues expressed their agreement with the ESRI team on the issue of creating enabling environment for conducting research, training and analysis of socio-economic development strategies of both countries for 2022-2026 years on the topics of common interests for the two countries.
In addition to the official meetings at Westminster International University and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, the ESRI representatives delivered presentations on "Azerbaijan's socio-economic development and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan" to the students and university faculties.
The main theme of the II Uzbekistan Forum in Samarkand was "People: At the heart of economic reforms". The political reform course of the fraternal state, which embarked on a new phase of socio-economic development, was highlighted in various events. The discussions at the forum revolved around the development strategy of the new Uzbekistan 2022-2026 against the backdrop of various changes and trends in the world and addressed its goals, expectations, opportunities and challenges.
The forum was held with the participation and support of high-level representatives of international financial institutions, world-renowned companies and international organizations and featured more than 1,500 participants representing Uzbek, international business and financial circles, international and regional development institutions, government, policy makers, think tanks and the media.
