Uzbekistan strengthens international partnership in the field of sustainable development: memorandum signed with Geoffrey Sachs and the French Development Agency

Uzbekistan is consolidating its position in the global sustainable development agenda by becoming one of the first countries in the region to implement a regional monitoring project for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The cooperation is secured by a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Professor Geoffrey Sachs, President of the international network SDSN (Network of Sustainable Development Solutions), and the French Development Agency (AFD).

The signing took place within the framework of the international seminar "Building the capacity of regions to monitor the SDGs", held in Tashkent on July 8-9, 2025. The event became a platform for discussing mechanisms for implementing a national and regional monitoring system, using geodata and digital analytics, as well as integrating innovative statistical solutions into public administration practice.

The seminar was attended by key international and national figures, including Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Umid Abidkhadzhayev, Deputy Director of the AFD Antoine Chevalier, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Mahl, as well as representatives of government agencies, the academic community and international institutions.

In his speech, Professor Sachs, one of the most influential economists of our time, highlighted Uzbekistan's progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and noted the importance of a regional approach. According to him, the formation of local assessment and monitoring systems will become the basis for more accurate planning and rational allocation of resources.

According to the latest data, Uzbekistan ranks 62nd in the global sustainable development rating with an integral score of 73.1 points, which is higher than the regional average (72.0). Since 2015, the country has improved its position by 12.1 points, demonstrating positive dynamics in key areas, including the fight against poverty, food security, environmental protection and sustainable use of land resources.

Special attention was paid to the development of specialized platforms for monitoring the SDGs at the regional level, which involves the use of geospatial data, modern IT tools and integration with government databases. This approach, according to experts, will allow more accurate monitoring of progress in each area of the country, increasing transparency, accountability and effectiveness of sustainable development policies.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan expressed its readiness to actively participate in the implementation of the signed memorandum and expressed confidence that cooperation with SDSN and AFD will be an important stage in building an inclusive, sustainable and knowledge-based model of economic growth.