Cooperation Between Uzbekistan and the World Bank in the Environmental Sphere Expands

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov held a meeting with Gayane Minasyan, Head of Environment and Social Development Practice for the Europe and Central Asia region at the World Bank.

The parties discussed further strengthening of cooperation in the fields of ecology and climate, as well as the World Bank’s support for Uzbekistan’s transition to a “green” economy model.

One of the key areas of collaboration highlighted during the talks was the joint Resiland project, aimed at restoring resilient forest landscapes.

The initiative covers the Jizzakh, Namangan, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Syrdarya, and Surkhandarya regions and is designed to modernize the forestry management system, combat desertification and erosion, and promote cross-border cooperation among Central Asian countries.

Special attention during the discussions was given to reducing air pollution. With the support of the World Bank, a comprehensive assessment of air quality is being carried out in Tashkent, along with monitoring activities in Termez. A new project in this area is also planned to be launched in Namangan.

It was noted that under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, issues of environmental safety and sustainable use of natural resources have been defined as one of the priorities of state policy.

The year 2025 has been declared in the country as the Year of Environmental Protection and the “Green” Economy, and in the energy sector, a goal has been set to increase the share of renewable energy sources to 60 percent.

The sides also discussed the participation of the World Bank in upcoming international events in Uzbekistan.

The delegation was invited to take part in the CITES COP20 Conference, which will be held in Samarkand from 24 November to 5 December 2025, as well as in the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), scheduled for 31 May – 5 June 2026.

In addition, the World Bank was invited to present its own pavilion at the Eco Expo Central Asia – 2026 exhibition.

Following the meeting, both sides expressed their readiness to further expand cooperation and develop new projects aimed at environmental protection and sustainable development.