Uzbekistan and Hungary Discuss the Introduction of a “Smart District” Model in Syrdarya

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of the implementation of instructions issued by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, members of a working group on public administration, territorial development, digital technologies, local governance and sustainable development held a meeting with representatives of Hungary’s Ministry of Public Administration and Territorial Development.

The sides noted that from 2 to 5 December of the current year, a Hungarian delegation led by Minister Tibor Navracsics paid a visit to Uzbekistan. During the visit, the delegations exchanged experience in the fields of public administration, digital technologies and local self-government, and discussed prospects for further cooperation.

The meeting addressed key areas of interaction. One of the central initiatives was the establishment of a permanent joint working group to implement a pilot “smart district” project based on Hungary’s ZalaZONE model in the Khovos district of the Syrdarya region.

The parties also discussed the exchange of experience related to Hungary’s LEADER model in the sphere of local self-government, including mechanisms for citizen participation in decision-making, open data systems and digital governance platforms.

It was agreed to develop a territorial development index through the adaptation of Hungary’s Regional Competitiveness Index methodology. This approach is expected to enable an objective assessment of the socio-economic condition of regions and districts and to ensure more effective targeting of investments.

In addition, the meeting examined the operations of the Government Services Center (“Government windows”) under Hungary’s Ministry of Public Administration and Territorial Development. Established in 2011, the center provides citizens with access to a wide range of administrative services on a one-stop-shop basis.

Currently, 305 offices operate in 249 municipalities, offering more than 2,500 types of services. To improve accessibility, mobile “Government window buses” have been introduced, and remote access to public services is available through the Ügyfélkapu+ electronic portal.

The adoption of the approaches studied is expected to support the development of Uzbekistan’s digital infrastructure, improve the quality of public services, and enhance the level of citizen engagement in local governance processes.