Gayane Umerova Appointed Head of Uzbekistan’s Republican Council for the Development of the Creative Economy

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Gayane Umerova, Director of the Culture and Arts Development Foundation of Uzbekistan, has been appointed as Chair of the Republican Council for the Development of the Creative Economy.

The council was established under a package of measures to support and develop creative industries approved by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 17 February. The new advisory body will comprise 15 members and is intended to serve as a key platform for shaping state policy in the field of the creative economy.

The council will be chaired by the Head of the Creative Economy and Tourism Development Department of the Presidential Administration and Director of the Culture and Arts Development Foundation, Gayane Umerova.

Its membership will include representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, among them Minister of Digital Development Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov, Chairman of the National Statistics Committee Bekhzod Khamraev, Chairman of the Tax Committee Farrukh Pulatov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilkhom Norkulov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhabov, Head of the Children’s Content Development Center Jahongir Akhmedov, Director of the National Cinematography Development Center Furkat Usmanov, Head of the Creative Industry Park Directorate Khusan Salikhov, and First Deputy Director of the Culture and Arts Development Foundation Azizbek Mannopov.

In addition, the council’s work will involve a leading entrepreneur from the creative economy sector as well as two experts—one national and one international—whose candidacies will be approved by the chair.

The council’s core mandate will be to develop proposals defining activities that fall within the creative economy, as well as to identify promising areas and growth points for the sector. It will formulate initiatives aimed at the systematic development and state support of creative industries.

Particular attention is expected to be given to attracting investment, expanding export potential, and promoting Uzbekistan’s creative products on international markets. Among the stated priorities are also the monetization of content, protection of intellectual property, and safeguarding of copyright.

In addition, the council will prepare recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Creative Park, advance professional training and skills development systems, and coordinate partnerships among government bodies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations within the creative industries.