Uzbekistan

According to a study conducted in Uzbekistan by the UN in collaboration with the local anti-corruption agency, only 22.5% of men believe that women can be competent leaders. This confirms a gender imbalance in access to resources and power that reinforces the social, political, and economic marginalization of women..

At the CAU Arch Summit 2026, architects, urban planners, and designers discussed the future of the urban environment, the role of technology, and the region’s cultural heritage. Star architect Bjarke Ingels: “This region preserves a centuries-old conception of space: the challenge for the new generation is not whether to modernize, but how to develop this heritage without destroying it.”

Speaking at a seminar organised in Samarkand by the Asian Development Bank, the Deputy Minister of Transport from Tashkent recalled how, during the Soviet era, Central Asia was part of a single country where logistics chains functioned effectively. The challenge now is to overcome today’s borders through new digital infrastructure.

In a country where 25% of the population is between the ages of 14 and 30, President Mirziyoyev has launched a package of measures aimed at this demographic for the first time. Among the planned initiatives are employment support, low-interest home loans, promotion of foreign language learning, and a national award for youth creativity.

To bypass the blockade of both the Gulf and conflict-ridden Afghanistan, a new land corridor is emerging, starting from the port of Karachi on the shores of the Arabian Sea and reaching as far as Tashkent via Iranian territory. A long and arduous route which, for Pakistan today, is the only way to access the Central Asian market, home to almost 80 million people.

In a region where over 100 million people will be living by 2025, the traditional model of trade in raw materials and finished goods is being superseded, with an increasing focus on the coordinated creation of added value. Berlin is able to offer cutting-edge solutions for the green transition and make a vital contribution to the development of human capital.

The countries of Central Asia are also taking steps within the framework of strengthening regional cooperation in defence systems, a process triggered by the war in the Middle East. Kazakhstan has announced the opening of its airspace to military flights from Turkey. Together with Uzbekistan, it aims to strengthen the alliance between the Turanian states through coordination plans with European nations.

By 2030, Tashkent plans to increase the share of the ‘creative economy’ in gross domestic product to 5%. In recent years, two new theatres, 19 cultural centres, 16 museums, 20 music and art schools, and five universities specialising in the sector have been opened. Mirziyoyev wants to restore the Uzbeks to their former glory, whilst also seeking to present a new face of the country.

Commissioned by President Mirziyoyev, with 42,000 square metres of exhibition space, it is one of the world’s largest facilities dedicated to the study and promotion of Muslim history, culture and civilisation. Also on display is the Mushaf of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, the oldest manuscript of the Qur’an.

Burdened by debt following privatisation, the Uzbek company is undergoing a tough restructuring programme aimed at simultaneously increasing production and reducing costs. A warning from a Kazakh industry operator: without transparency and prudent use of resources, others risk suffering the same fate.

The conflict in the Middle East also involves the former Soviet republics, which historically have close ties with Tehran. Strong emotions in Baku over the killing of Khamenei, who was of Azerbaijani origin. Azerbaijan, which also has relations with Israel, is a crossroads for the evacuation of foreign citizens from Iran. From Kazakhstan, Tokaev aligns himself with the Arab countries but calls for a “peaceful solution”.

According to the latest census in Kazakhstan, there are almost 424,000 mothers living alone with minor children. In Astana, a businesswoman has started a volunteer organisation that helps those who give birth without anyone by their side. Her idea has now been replicated in Uzbekistan.