Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 July, Minister of Innovative Development Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov met with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Olga Algaerova. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of science and innovation.

Algayerova emphasized the large-scale reforms carried out in the country in the field of science, technology and innovation, and also noted significant progress over the past 3 years.

Special attention was paid to the ecological catastrophe of Aral region and the need to take practical measures to improve the situation. An agreement was reached on the further maintenance of international dialogue within the framework of a special UN resolution declaring the Aral Sea region a "zone of environmental innovations and technologies", adopted on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current project "Innovation for Sustainable Development in Uzbekistan", aimed at a comprehensive assessment of the current state of innovation development, innovation system and the development of recommendations and tools to improve innovation policy.

The possibilities and prospects of further interaction in the field of innovations and improvement of the system in Uzbekistan were considered, taking into account the advanced international experience. In particular, the issues on the development of a Subregional Review of Innovation Policy in Central Asia, holding workshops on innovation and competitiveness, as well as strengthening the national regulatory framework in the field of innovative and technological development with the assistance of the UNECE were considered.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to interact on a regular basis in order to work out new areas of cooperation. In particular, it was noted that it is necessary to assist in the development of the food and textile industry through the introduction of modern mechanisms and tools for tracing the origin of products in the value chain, the development of regulations and a regulatory framework for the development of a new transport industry in Uzbekistan (cars with a hydrogen engine and self-driving cars), as well as providing assistance and advice on raising the standards of national agricultural and export-oriented products.