Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Katsura Miyazaki, Executive Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), visited Uzbekistan for the 25th anniversary of the Uzbekistan-Japan Center (UJC).
During the visit she met government officials in Tashkent and regional leaders in Samarkand, Fergana and Kokand, and attended the opening of UJC's new branch in Kokand.
In an interview with UzDaily.uz, Miyazaki spoke about the results of the visit, the Center's plans and JICA's projects in the regions, from the One Village One Product initiative to dried persimmon production in Samarkand. She also set out JICA's priorities in Uzbekistan for the coming years.
What were the main goals of your visit to Uzbekistan?
The main goals of my visit were to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Uzbekistan-Japan Center (UJC), and discuss ongoing projects and opportunities for future cooperation with our Uzbek partners.
For 25 years, UJC has helped foster ties between Uzbekistan and Japan through business education, Japanese language education, and cultural and people-to-people exchange. This visit was particularly meaningful to me personally, as it was my second visit to Uzbekistan and my first in 25 years. By coincidence, my return coincided with UJC’s 25th anniversary.
Coming back after a quarter century, I was struck by how much the country has changed. Uzbekistan is currently experiencing annual economic growth of 6-7%, and I can feel the vibrance and energy in the air. The sense of energy and optimism here perhaps reminds me of Japan during its period of rapid economic growth.
Of course, Uzbekistan will navigate its own unique path in a global context very different from the one Japan experienced. I sincerely wish the best for its people, and hope JICA can play a role as a trusted partner in its sustainable and inclusive development.
You visited several JICA project sites. What impressed you most, and/or what key lessons did you take away from those visits?
This visit gave me a valuable opportunity to see how Japan-Uzbekistan cooperation is creating tangible value and how people are benefiting from that cooperation.
One of the most memorable experiences was meeting graduates, entrepreneurs, and partners of the UJC. These encounters allowed me to better appreciate the lasting impact that education, knowledge sharing, and people-to-people exchange can have on individuals and communities.
Another highlight was attending the opening ceremony of the new UJC Kokand Branch. The expansion of UJC's activities to the Fergana Valley demonstrates the importance of bringing educational and professional development opportunities closer to local communities. I was encouraged by the strong commitment shown by local leaders towards investing in the next generation.
Across the different sites I visited, one common takeaway was the importance of human resource development. These visits highlighted that sustainable development is supported not only by infrastructure and strong institutions, but also by people with the skills, knowledge, and motivation to contribute to their communities and the country's future.
What were the main results of this visit?
I had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with a wide range of distinguished leaders. Our discussions deepened my understanding of Uzbekistan's development priorities and helped lay a solid foundation for continued cooperation between our two countries.
In Tashkent, I had valuable discussions with H.E. the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, and H.E. the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance. Through these meetings, we reaffirmed that JICA will focus its financial cooperation in the medium-term on economic infrastructure, promotion of private investment, healthcare, and higher education.
I also had fruitful discussions with the Co-Directors of UJC about the Center’s achievements and future direction. In Samarkand, I met with the Governor of the Samarkand Region, and I also had the opportunity to exchange views with the Governor of Fergana Region and the Mayor of Kokand City. These meetings and site visits reaffirmed the country’s potential for regional development.
The visit also highlighted an important dimension of JICA's cooperation on gender equality. JICA seeks to incorporate gender equality perspectives into all of its projects and programs, and we have been working closely with the Government of Uzbekistan to promote greater understanding of this approach.
I am very pleased to see progress in this area. With the strong commitment from the Government of Uzbekistan, women now account for approximately 47% of participants in JICA training programs, representing significant progress compared with previous years. I also had the opportunity to speak directly with women entrepreneurs who are graduates of UJC. Hearing about their experiences and aspirations gave me a strong sense of the progress being made in empowering women in Uzbekistan.
The Uzbekistan-Japan Center marks its 25th anniversary this year. What has it contributed to training Uzbek specialists and managers? Which of its results would you point to?
Over the past 25 years, UJC has become an important platform for business education, Japanese language education, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections. More than 2,600 people have graduated from its Professional Management Program, where they have learnt Japanese management practices. One notable example is Safia Café & Bakery, whose management studied Japanese management and Kaizen at UJC and whose business has since grown to approximately 3,500 employees and more than 100 shops and cafés. Beyond these individual success stories, I believe one of UJC's greatest achievements is the network it has built among businesspeople, professionals, and communities in both countries. These relationships are an important foundation for future collaboration between Uzbekistan and Japan.
What makes the Japanese approach to business and management training valuable for Uzbekistan? Which skills are in most demand among the Center's participants today?
A key strength of Japanese management is its emphasis on continuous improvement, practical problem-solving, quality, teamwork, and developing people. These approaches are particularly relevant as Uzbek companies grow and become more competitive. Today, leadership, strategic management, problem-solving, people development, and the ability to build partnerships are among the skills that are increasingly important. This is also reflected in UJC's new MIRAI KAIZEN Executive Program.
The Center is opening a branch in Kokand. Why Kokand? What will the branch offer people in the Fergana Valley?
The Fergana Valley is one of Uzbekistan's most dynamic regions, with a large young population and significant economic potential. JICA has long supported the development of the Fergana Valley in areas such as agriculture, regional development, and human resource development, so we see it as particularly meaningful to establish a new platform for learning and capacity building there.
The Kokand Branch will initially focus on Japanese language education, providing young people in the region with opportunities to learn Japanese and explore new possibilities for their future. We hope to expand its activities to include business education and contribute to developing future business leaders, managers, and skilled professionals in the region.
How do you see the Center developing over the next 5–10 years? Are there plans for new programs, new regions or closer links with Japanese companies?
Over the next 5–10 years, I hope UJC will further develop as a platform connecting Uzbekistan and Japan through business, education, and people-to-people exchange. We would like to strengthen business and management programs, expand regional activities, and create more opportunities for collaboration between Uzbek and Japanese companies. JICA will continue supporting these efforts.
The One Village One Product project started this year in the Fergana, Samarkand and Tashkent regions. How can it raise incomes in the regions, including for women? What will it do for local products?
The technical cooperation project being implemented together with Agrostar, “Project for Promotion of One Village One Product (OVOP) Movement in Uzbekistan,” was launched in May 2026, and we have high expectations for its contributions to local product development. When President Mirziyoyev met with JICA President Tanaka in December 2025, he also expressed strong expectations for the OVOP initiative.
With the proactive efforts of Agrostar, we are already seeing promising early initiatives, including the installation of vending machines to expand opportunities to sell OVOP products such as natural juices and fresh cut fruit. By identifying local resources and traditions and connecting them with product development, processing, distribution, and sales, OVOP can help promote local industries and create new employment and income opportunities, including for women. OVOP initiatives are also being implemented in neighboring countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, and we look forward to regional knowledge sharing.
The dried persimmon project in Samarkand aimed to give 100 farming households extra income. What results has it achieved, and can the model be used in other regions?
Launched in 2023, the project has supported around 100 small-scale farming households in Samarkand Region by introducing Japanese techniques for dried persimmon production and quality control, as well as helping establish sales channels. Implemented in collaboration with Samarkand Agro-Innovation University on the Uzbek side and Tokyo University of Agriculture on the Japanese side, under the leadership of Professor Kawabata, the project has made progress in improving production and developing new products. It has also contributed to improving livelihoods, particularly for women and older people in the participating communities. We are especially encouraged to see locally driven initiatives emerging, including financial support from Agrobank, which demonstrates the growing local ownership of the initiative. During my visit, I also had the chance to taste the dried persimmons myself. I was very impressed by their quality and taste, and it was very rewarding to see firsthand how Japanese know-how is being adapted and put into practice locally.
In addition, Uzbek graduates of Japanese universities and JICA volunteers in the agricultural sector are contributing to these efforts in Samarkand.
Looking ahead, a second phase is expected to start soon, with the aim of expanding the model developed in Samarkand to the national level.
JICA supports the Uzbek-Japan Innovation Center of Youth at Tashkent State Technical University and the National Center for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics. What do these projects show about JICA's work in education, science and inclusive healthcare?
These projects demonstrate the breadth of JICA’s approach to human development in Uzbekistan. At the Uzbek-Japan Innovation Center of Youth at Tashkent State Technical University, we are supporting young researchers and strengthening links between Uzbek and Japanese universities, with the aim of fostering practical, internationally minded engineers and researchers who can contribute to Uzbekistan’s industrial development.
At the National Center for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, our cooperation along with volunteers focuses on improving the quality of rehabilitation services and developing human resources so that people with disabilities can participate more fully in society. Together, these initiatives show that JICA’s cooperation goes beyond infrastructure and equipment. We place strong emphasis on developing people, promoting innovation, and ensuring that the benefits of development reach everyone.
Which areas will be JICA's priority in Uzbekistan over the next few years?
Looking ahead, JICA would like to deepen its cooperation with Uzbekistan in line with the priorities of the “Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue (CAJAD): Green transformation and resilience, Connectivity, and Human resource development.
Through these areas, we hope to support Uzbekistan’s sustainable and inclusive development, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and further strengthen the partnership between Japan and Uzbekistan.
How do you see the partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan developing? What role will JICA play in it?
Although Japan and Uzbekistan are geographically distant, our friendship has been nurtured through long-standing people-to-people ties and mutual respect. Going forward, I believe our partnership should evolve into one of co-creation, where we work together on shared challenges and create new value. As Uzbekistan continues to grow, I believe JICA has an important role to play as a “catalyst” connecting Uzbekistan with a wide range of Japanese stakeholders, including the private sector. JICA will continue to listen closely to Uzbekistan’s needs, connect people and ideas between our two countries, and contribute to its sustainable and inclusive development.
