It is hard to imagine economic development in any country in the world where the agricultural sector does not receive special attention. The well-being of citizens in each country depends on the level of development of agriculture. Only through the development of the agricultural sector is it possible to produce the products necessary for life and beneficial for the health of the country's population, as well as to improve the system of its processing. Moreover, this contributes to an increase in the number of jobs for rural residents in remote areas.
Therefore, in Uzbekistan, particular emphasis is placed on the development of the agricultural sector, the broad introduction of experience from developed countries into this sphere, as well as the achievements of science and innovations.
In particular, a Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October 23, 2019, № DP-5853 "On the Approval of the Strategy for the Development of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030", defined nine priority directions for the development of agriculture.
Based on these priority directions, a series of measures are being implemented to systematically develop the agricultural sector, broadly introduce advanced experience and agronomic technologies from developed countries, as well as the achievements of science in agriculture. In this process, relations with developed countries play a particularly significant role.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit the UAE at the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan from January 13 to 16. Speaking about cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates in the agricultural sector, it should be noted that Uzbekistan and the countries of the Middle East, including the UAE, share a common goal, geographical proximity, as well as cultural and spiritual kinship.
The modern world is witnessing how Uzbekistan, thanks to its pragmatic policy, successfully establishes close cooperation with both the West and the East. A special role in this process is played by interaction with the United Arab Emirates, which hold a key position in the Middle East region. The dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, based on mutual trust and friendship, promotes comprehensive development of relations and the implementation of important visits, one of which serves as a bright confirmation.
The UAE have become one of the key partners of Uzbekistan in the region, as evidenced by significant events such as the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, marked in October 2022. Today, relations between Tashkent and Abu Dhabi are rapidly strengthening, based on the principles of mutual trust and consideration of interests. Since 2017, these ties have transitioned to a qualitatively new level, facilitated by active political dialogue at the highest and high levels.
Last year, the volume of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates amounted to $30.5 million. Of this amount, exports from Uzbekistan to the UAE accounted for $19.3 million, with fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat food products making up the largest share. Meanwhile, imports from the UAE totaled $11.2 million. In the agricultural sector, relations between the two countries continue to strengthen rapidly, creating mutually beneficial opportunities for both sides.
It is important to note that such achievements do not occur spontaneously. The UAE actively support Uzbekistan in developing various sectors, including the selection and evaluation of professional competencies of government officials, as well as the implementation of advanced educational and innovative approaches. A significant role in this process is played by the Prime Minister of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The special relationship of trust and friendship between our countries is the result of targeted and practical steps aimed at strengthening cooperation.
It should be emphasized that the annual Dubai Summit "Week of Sustainable Development" has become a key event serving as an indicator of the effectiveness of interaction in various fields and sectors. This event has received high recognition from the international community, confirming its significance on a global scale. If we look at the example of the agricultural sector, the calls made at the summit over the past three years clearly demonstrate the need for joint actions to ensure a safe future for humanity and its sustainable existence on our planet. It is evident that traditional agriculture can no longer fully meet the growing demands and needs of the world's population. It is reassuring that the Dubai Summit has become an important platform for discussing and finding solutions to these global challenges.
It is not coincidental that the United Arab Emirates are striving to develop cooperation with Uzbekistan in the agricultural sector alongside other areas. Many Arab companies are showing interest in processing agricultural products grown in Uzbekistan, with subsequent export not only to the UAE but also to international markets. In this context, it is clear that the current visit of the President of Uzbekistan to the UAE will be an important step that will elevate cooperation between the two countries, built on mutual trust, to a qualitatively new level.
Within the framework of this visit, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates. The document aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of agriculture and ensuring food security.
Undoubtedly, there are numerous unrealized opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries. Currently, responsible representatives of the agricultural sectors of Uzbekistan and the UAE are actively discussing the joint implementation of various projects. Among them are organizing the production of food and confectionery products in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates, exporting fresh vegetable products grown in Uzbekistan to the UAE, and holding an international exhibition "Week of Food Security" in Uzbekistan.
For the first time in Uzbekistan, a National Program for adapting agriculture to climate change and reducing its negative impact has been adopted. To implement this program and support producers, more than 160 million dollars have been attracted from foreign financial organizations.
Of particular note is the fact that in 2024, 343 new projects were launched in rural areas aimed at developing the food industry and improving the infrastructure for storage and distribution of agricultural products.
Out of more than 4,300 plant species growing naturally and adapted to the climatic conditions of Uzbekistan, about 750 are medicinal. Among them, 112 species are registered for use in scientific medicine, while 70 species are actively used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Given this, special attention in the agriculture of Uzbekistan is paid to the cultivation of medicinal plants. Significant progress has been achieved in the field of plant protection, rational use of natural resources, organization of crop plantations, and processing of raw materials.
One of the largest events in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan in 2024 was undoubtedly the VIII World Cotton Research Conference, which was held for the first time in Tashkent from October 3 to 7. During this prestigious conference, which gathered scientists and experts from countries actively engaged in cotton farming, key topics such as crop planting systems under global climate changes, ecology of chemical treatment against insects, and issues related to robotics and artificial intelligence in agricultural production were widely discussed.
Given the real threat of global climate changes, it is extremely important to jointly address tasks aimed at increasing cotton yield, developing seed breeding, and selecting cotton varieties. During the conference in Tashkent, cotton scientists exchanged experiences and discussed ways to improve fiber quality and increase the yield of this important agricultural crop.
In 2025, plans are in place to expand the areas occupied by local biotechnological plant varieties resistant to drought, salinity, and wilting, using advanced breeding techniques based on gene knockout and marker methods.
Certainly, for the effective development of the agricultural sector and achieving high yields, it is crucial to implement the latest scientific and technical advancements and innovative developments. Given the rapid progress of digital technologies that are covering all sectors of the republic's economy, the agricultural sector cannot remain untouched by these changes.
In recent years, a series of reforms have been carried out in the agricultural sector aimed at creating agro-industrial clusters, supporting, and further improving their activities. As a result of these reforms, today 671 agro-industrial clusters are functioning, opening up new opportunities for deep processing, storage, and marketing of products produced within their frameworks.
One of the priority areas in agriculture remains ensuring food security for the population, creating a favorable agricultural business environment, and value-added chains, enhancing the investment attractiveness of the sector, as well as developing rural areas.
In short, given the extensive investment potential of the United Arab Emirates and their experience in implementing large-scale investment projects aimed at effectively introducing advanced technologies and building a diversified and sustainable economy, cooperation between our countries is developing across multiple key directions. Close partnership with such a country opens up new opportunities for Uzbekistan in the agricultural sector.
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