Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — 12 August is celebrated worldwide as International Youth Day. This date was officially proclaimed in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly, following the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held in Lisbon in 1998. It is an important opportunity to once again highlight the contribution of young people to societal development and their role in building the future.

According to statistics, there are currently around 1.2 billion young people aged 15–24 in the world, representing approximately 16 percent of the global population. Youth are not only an integral part of society but also play a decisive role in driving innovation, economic growth, and social transformation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Uzbekistan actively celebrates this occasion each year, engaging young people in the development of sustainable agrifood systems, the introduction of cutting-edge innovations, and the use of modern digital technologies. This year, FAO’s Representation in Uzbekistan, in strategic partnership with the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organized a special Youth Dialogue on the theme “Youth and the Sustainable Future of Agriculture in Uzbekistan.”

The high-level event brought together Sherzod Umarov, Deputy Head of FAO’s Representation in Uzbekistan; Dilnozakhon Kattakhanova, First Deputy Director of the Youth Affairs Agency; FAO specialists; representatives of relevant ministries and agencies; youth organizations; promising young agripreneurs; volunteer initiatives; student communities; and esteemed international partner organizations.

This year’s Youth Dialogue was dedicated to the presentation of the National Youth Chapter within the Global Youth Initiative of the World Food Forum (WFF) as a strategic component. The initiative aims to significantly enhance youth participation in the development of sustainable agrifood systems in Uzbekistan.

The event focused on developing youth potential, increasing their engagement in environmental initiatives, and strengthening professional partnerships.

Youth support is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the “Uzbekistan – 2030” National Strategy, and the UN Secretary-General’s strategic programme “Youth – 2030” launched in September 2018. The event clearly demonstrated Uzbekistan’s firm commitment to supporting youth as a driving force behind agricultural reforms and sustainable rural development, while further strengthening national efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.