Uzbekistan Expands Cooperation With Global SDSN Network

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) has become the first organisation in Uzbekistan within the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to be designated as a host institution. The University of World Economy and Diplomacy will serve as a co-host.

IMRS hosted a meeting with SDSN President and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs to discuss cooperation on sustainable development and the application of science-based approaches to addressing challenges in environmental protection, innovation and education.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, international organisations, leading universities and research institutions in Uzbekistan.

According to the organisers, the discussions took place as part of The Drive of Peace, an international peace initiative led by Jeffrey Sachs and entrepreneur Patrick Zhong. The initiative includes meetings with heads of state and senior government officials in various countries. A number of international companies and organisations have also joined the initiative, including BYD, Michelin, Santander, Franklin Templeton, Trip.com, Ferrari, the University of Cambridge, FIFA and TikTok.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an initiative to establish an SDSN regional centre in Uzbekistan. The proposed centre would operate on the basis of IMRS and serve as a platform to bring together scientific, educational and expert communities, strengthen cooperation between academia, government and business, and support implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Uzbekistan and across Central Asia.

Addressing the meeting, Sachs said that, according to recent research, the centre of global economic activity is gradually shifting towards Asia. He said this creates new opportunities for Central Asian countries in scientific, economic and infrastructure cooperation and strengthens the region's role as a bridge between Europe and Asia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation and strengthening Uzbekistan's participation in the global network of knowledge and innovation to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.