AGP Executive Report

Climate & Water Policy: Uzbekistan is moving to monetize carbon emissions with an Emissions Trading System pilot for 50–60 heavy emitters, aiming to shift pollution control from paperwork to market-based pricing. Aral Sea Restoration & Education: In Karakalpakstan, the Aral School is training residents on climate and landscape, including saxaul planting on the dried Aral seabed, with a new 2027 intake planned. Uranium Cleanup Risk: Central Asia’s uranium cleanup faces long timelines after engineers found tailings inside a dam at Mailuu-Suu, forcing costly redesigns and ongoing monitoring through 2032. Soil Moisture Innovation: Uzbekistan is pushing biochar made from cotton waste to help soil retain water and nutrients, building on major irrigation upgrades. Low-Carbon Transport: Tashkent approved €157m to buy 10 electric Škoda commuter trains, targeting a 20% capacity boost and faster stop-to-stop travel. Agriculture Tech Cooperation: Uzbekistan and South Korea are launching water-saving and smart farming projects, including greenhouse plans and climate-adaptation grants.

Carbon Pricing: Uzbekistan is moving to monetize emissions by designing an Emissions Trading System (ETS), with a pilot covering 50–60 heavy facilities (25,000+ tons CO₂e/year) and a shift from pure regulation to market-based compliance. Low-Carbon Transport: Tashkent approved a €157m plan to buy 10 Škoda electric commuter trains, aiming for at least 20% higher capacity and faster service on key corridors. Water & Soil Resilience: Uzbekistan is pushing beyond irrigation delivery toward soil moisture retention, promoting biochar made from cotton waste to cut runoff and help fields hold water and nutrients. Aral Sea Innovation: The Aral School in Nukus (Karakalpakstan) is expanding its climate-and-landscape postgraduate residency, linking design, research, and the Aral Sea region’s ecological challenges. Cybersecurity: Cisco-linked reporting says SilkParasite infrastructure has been expanded via SpiceRAT command-and-control systems targeting Central Asian governments and energy firms. Regional Water Cooperation: Egypt and Uzbekistan discussed joint work on irrigation modernization, digital water management, reuse, groundwater control, and transboundary river coordination. Culture on the Salt Flats: A temporary “White Salt City” art festival is underway on Barsakelmes salt flats, built and dismantled under a leave-no-trace rule.

Water Diplomacy: Egypt and Uzbekistan agreed to expand cooperation on irrigation modernization, digital water management and groundwater monitoring, with a joint working group planned to start practical projects. Nuclear Safety: Uzbekistan’s nuclear regulator met Finland and Russia experts to strengthen its national safety system, focusing on licensing, inspections and regulatory capacity as nuclear tech use grows. Aral Sea Education: The Aral School in Nukus (Karakalpakstan) named Joseph Grima as Programme Director for a new fully funded 2027 residency on “Climate and Landscape,” linking soil, hydrology, wind, agriculture and cultural history. Korea–Central Asia Deals: Uzbekistan and partners signed the Seoul Declaration after the first Korea–Central Asia summit, setting a 30-year agenda and biennial leaders’ meetings, with cooperation on critical minerals, energy, supply chains, AI and people-to-people ties. Climate & Carbon Push: Uzbekistan proposed a “Climate and Carbon Partnership” with South Korea alongside industrial and technology park plans and a critical minerals investment alliance. Customs & Nature Tech: In Tashkent, customs experts said trained detection dogs still complement AI scanning for spotting illicit goods—an approach that supports safer trade routes.

Korea–Central Asia Summit: Uzbekistan joined Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in Seoul to sign the 30-year Seoul Declaration, setting a new rhythm for cooperation every two years and focusing on critical minerals, energy, supply chains, and emerging technologies. Uzbekistan–Korea Economic Push: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a “Central Asia–Korea: Partnership for Accelerated Development” vision, including a Central Asia–Korea Industrial and Technology Park, a Regional Investment Alliance for Critical Minerals, and a Climate and Carbon Partnership. Water & Climate Resilience (Region): Azerbaijan pledged up to $588m for climate-resilient irrigation and is using an AI farmer scoring system to steer subsidies toward water-saving and soil-regenerating practices. Customs Tech vs Nature: In Tashkent, the World Customs Organisation’s canine forum highlighted that trained detection dogs still complement AI scanning for spotting illicit goods. Uzbekistan Market Access: UZEX and PhillipCapital launched UZEX Global to connect Uzbek firms with international commodity futures. Power System Lesson: A blackout analysis points to how a single plant trip can cascade across the region’s grid, underlining the need for resilient infrastructure amid climate stress.

Uzbekistan–South Korea Summit: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pushed a 30-year cooperation roadmap with Seoul, aiming to lift bilateral trade to $20bn by 2030 and proposing an Industrial and Technology Park in Uzbekistan plus a Regional Investment Alliance for critical minerals. He also called for a Central Asia–Korea Climate and Carbon Partnership to expand climate collaboration. Regional Energy & Minerals Agenda: The Seoul Declaration sets a long-term plan for cooperation across critical minerals, energy, supply chains, trade, digital transformation and emerging technologies, with Kazakhstan offering to host the next summit in Astana in 2028. Agriculture Cooperation: Korea’s Rural Development Administration signed an MOU with Uzbekistan’s agriculture ministry to train specialists and scale sustainable farming and productivity using Korean technologies. Water & Irrigation Modernization: Daewoo E&C agreed with Turkmenistan to support modernization of a 250km section of the lower Karakum Canal, with added focus on water resources and environmental projects. Climate Adaptation in the Region: Azerbaijan pledged up to 1bn manat for climate-resilient irrigation and launched an AI-based farmer scoring system with FAO to reward water-saving and soil-regenerating practices.

Green Energy Corridors: Azerbaijan and the ADB discussed expanding renewable generation and regional green power corridors, including grid upgrades and feasibility work for a Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan route. Climate Adaptation: Azerbaijan committed up to 1 billion manat for climate-resilient irrigation, pairing modern water systems with an AI-based farmer scoring tool to reward water-saving and soil-regenerating practices. Uzbekistan–Korea Cooperation: Uzbekistan and South Korea agreed to broaden ties into AI, healthcare, climate response, critical minerals and digital tech ahead of the Korea–Central Asia summit. Aral Sea Tourism 2027: Uzbekistan and UN Tourism moved to prepare the 2027 International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, with Tashkent set to host the opening ceremony in November. Finance for Green Portfolios: EMGA led an $80m club loan for Uzbekistan’s Ipak Yuli Bank aimed at strengthening SME, gender and green portfolios. Water & Soil Tech: UNICEF-backed smart tech in Tajikistan targets soil protection, showing how digital tools can support land resilience. Digital Payments Policy (India, regional impact): India’s RBI/NPCI set a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, while keeping person-to-person and small payments free.

Green Finance: EMGA led an $80m club loan for Uzbekistan’s Ipak Yuli Bank, aimed at expanding SME, Gender and Green portfolios, with support from OeEB, CDP and Allianz Global Investors. Climate & Water Tourism: Uzbekistan and UN Tourism are preparing to launch the 2027 International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, with Tashkent hosting the opening ceremony in Nov 2026 and a focus on resilience and sustainable destination competitiveness. Biodiversity-Linked Cooperation: Uzbekistan and South Korea signed 13 cooperation documents during Mirziyoyev’s Seoul visit, including deals touching critical minerals, AI, rail and defense, plus environmental protection and climate-change collaboration. Regional Summit Push: South Korea is set to hold the first Korea–Central Asia leaders summit in Seoul on Sept 16, with a Seoul Declaration expected to map long-term cooperation across supply chains, emerging industries, water resources and climate-related projects. Trade & Policy Signals: A new Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan “Business Barometer” will track business sentiment monthly to spot barriers and opportunities for deeper bilateral economic cooperation.

Uzbek–Korea Green & Industry Deals: Uzbekistan and South Korea signed 13 cooperation documents in Seoul, spanning critical minerals, AI, rail and defense—plus environmental protection and climate-change work. Waste-to-Energy Push: Uzbekistan plans six waste-to-energy plants with Chinese partners (2026–2027), targeting 3.6 million tons of municipal waste processing and 1.6 billion kWh of power, with two plants set to start before year-end. Aral Sea Water Diplomacy: Central Asian states adopted a practical summary for the UN Special Program for the Aral Sea basin (UN SPAS) after a consultative meeting in Turkmenistan’s Avaza, focusing on legal setup, financing and implementation mechanisms. Green Skills for Agriculture: A CAREC-backed seminar in Tashkent advanced a regional green agriculture platform and a new academic module on green, climate-resilient and digital farming. AI Infrastructure Watch: Moody’s says AI investment could boost Central Asia’s growth but will raise demand for electricity, telecoms, water and computing—highlighting Uzbekistan among the region’s progress-makers. Women in Energy Jobs: A new study flags a steep drop from technical STEM education into Uzbekistan’s energy sector, pointing to barriers that keep women from power-plant careers.**

Korea–Uzbekistan Summit: South Korea President Lee Jae-myung met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Seoul, agreeing to expand cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, AI, climate crisis response and defense, as Seoul prepares a wider Korea–Central Asia leaders’ summit. Regional Industry Push: South Korea also hosted the first Korea–Central Asia industry ministers’ meeting, where Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan backed supply-chain cooperation—linking Central Asia’s minerals with Korean processing tech and smart factory upgrades. Waste-to-Energy Drive: Uzbekistan plans six waste-to-energy projects with Chinese companies in 2026–2027 (about $933m), aiming to process 3.6m tons of municipal waste yearly and generate 1.6bn kWh, with two plants set to start before year-end. Aral Sea Water Diplomacy: Central Asian states adopted a final summary in Turkmenistan on a UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin, outlining the UN SPAS format, legal framework, mechanisms and financing, with UNDP/GEF support. Green Skills for Agriculture: An international seminar in Tashkent under ADB’s CAREC program focused on green, climate-resilient and digital agriculture, including launching a Regional Center for Green Agriculture online platform and a new academic module. Energy & Environment Link: Uzbekistan–Korea talks also touched climate responses, while broader regional cooperation continues to frame minerals and energy as part of sustainable development.

BRICS Summit Wrap: India’s PM Narendra Modi closed the 18th BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi warning that the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals could slow shared progress, as leaders agreed on stronger cooperation across technology, supply chains, health, innovation and trade. Open-Source AI Push: China’s Xi unveiled a “Greater BRICS” plan including a BRICS open-source AI ecosystem and an AI open-source zone, alongside ideas for more integrated markets and stable industrial supply chains. Digital Agriculture for Farmers: Modi also backed a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture linking AI and geospatial tools to farmers’ real needs, aiming to boost resilience and livelihoods. Nuclear Safety Alarm: The New Delhi Declaration flagged “deliberate attacks” on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, stressing nuclear safety even during armed conflicts. Uzbekistan in the Partner Mix: Uzbekistan joined the summit’s partner framework, with the declaration explicitly recognizing partner contributions and calling for broader participation in resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Energy & Water Context: Separate coverage highlights Uzbekistan’s wider regional push on smart irrigation and water management cooperation, aligning with the summit’s sustainability theme.

BRICS Summit (New Delhi): Leaders wrapped up the 18th BRICS summit with an open session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” after adopting the New Delhi Declaration and pushing for outcomes to be turned into time-bound action. Nuclear & civilian protection: BRICS warned about “deliberate attacks” on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, stressing nuclear safety during armed conflicts and raising “growing risks” of nuclear danger. Trade, payments & environment policy: The declaration backed local-currency transfers and criticized indiscriminate tariffs and sanctions, while also flagging protectionism “under the guise of environmental objectives.” China’s push: Xi unveiled AI and trade initiatives, including a BRICS AI open-source push and service-trade plans. Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan green regulation: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan discussed modernizing environmental regulation using BAT tools, industrial audits, and a joint digital platform to digitize and compare environmental performance indicators. Diplomacy on the sidelines: India’s Jaishankar met Nigeria, Cuba and Belarus counterparts on economic cooperation and South-South ties, while Modi met Egypt’s El-Sisi during the summit.

Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan Environmental Regulation Talks: Delegations met at Uzbekistan’s State Centre for Environmental Expertise to share how Kazakhstan uses industrial audits, BAT reference documents, and performance indicators to cut emissions and waste. Both sides discussed creating a joint digital platform to consolidate technological data and digitize BAT materials, aiming to speed Uzbekistan’s shift toward preventive, technology-driven environmental regulation. BRICS and Sustainability Signals: At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, stressing innovation and sustainability, and calling for protection of cultural heritage and concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities. Aral Sea Water Diplomacy: Turkmenistan hosted a regional consultative meeting on implementing the UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin, with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan among participants, supported by UNDP/GEF and Blue Peace Central Asia. Food and Seed Resilience: BRICS agreed to establish AGRIN to boost agro-inputs, genetic resources, and agricultural information, plus continued work on a grain trading platform—framed as a response to food price volatility. Uzbekistan in the Digital Language Mix: A South African open-source tool, TextAugment, is being used worldwide and includes Uzbek among supported languages, helping researchers create synthetic training data for under-resourced tongues.

Aral Sea Water Diplomacy: Turkmenistan hosted a second regional consultative meeting on an implementation mechanism for the UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin, bringing together Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan plus UNDP/GEF and water-focused partners to push practical water diplomacy and cooperation. Climate & Nature at the Summit: At India’s 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, leaders held a tree-planting ceremony and cultural outreach that included a “Sangam” friendship mural featuring nature, flora and fauna—tying the event’s “resilience…sustainability” theme to environmental messaging. Energy Security Pressure: The BRICS summit opened under the shadow of the US-Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with energy crisis and trade disruptions driving calls for resilient, sustainable cooperation. Uzbekistan in the Room: Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended as a BRICS partner, underscoring Central Asia’s stake in regional stability and development discussions. Local-Currency Push: Iran’s President Pezeshkian urged BRICS to expand national-currency trade and build a resilient trade network to reduce vulnerability to political shocks.

Water Diplomacy: UNDP and partners kicked off a push to strengthen water diplomacy and regional cooperation in the Aral Sea Basin, focusing on shared management of water resources and ecosystems. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev urged better logistics and transport corridors linking Central Asia with the South Caucasus, including in talks with Armenia’s PM Pashinyan. Nuclear-Free Central Asia: Central Asian foreign ministers marked 20 years since the CANWFZ treaty, warning that arms-control erosion and mistrust are raising global security risks. Customs & Environment: The World Customs Organization chief visited Tashkent, praising Uzbekistan’s “New Uzbekistan Customs–2030” modernization and opening the 7th Global Canine Forum. BRICS, Trade & Payments: Ahead of the New Delhi BRICS summit, Iran’s Pezeshkian urged more local-currency trade and cross-border settlement mechanisms, while India’s Piyush Goyal called for linking payment systems and expanding digital trade. Green Energy Links: Türkiye and Azerbaijan outlined new electricity transmission plans, including a multi-country “green corridor” aimed at linking power across the region. Cultural Heritage Under Pressure: Ashgabat’s 20th-century architecture is reportedly disappearing as buildings are demolished, raising concerns for heritage preservation.

Waste-to-Energy Push: Uzbekistan is accelerating six waste-to-energy projects worth $933m with Chinese partners, aiming to process 3.6m tons of municipal waste yearly and cut greenhouse gases by 316,000 tons once fully online (2026-2027), easing landfill pressure. Customs Modernization & Canine Capacity: The WCO Secretary General visited Tashkent, praising Uzbekistan’s “New Uzbekistan Customs – 2030” strategy and opening the 7th Global Canine Forum tied to the Uzbekistan Customs K9 Centre’s 30-year work. Smart City Cooperation: Korea’s KIND held a 2026 K-City Network forum in Busan, with Uzbekistan among partners discussing smart city pilots like a satellite city plan for Tashkent’s new airport and follow-up commercialization. Regional Tourism Links: CAREC’s Tourism Working Group met in Tashkent to advance cross-border travel, including upgrading the “Visit Silk Road” portal, adding AI travel tools, and adopting GSTC standards for 2026–2027. Korea-Central Asia Summit: Seoul will host the first Korea-Central Asia Summit on Sept. 16, with Uzbekistan among leaders, focusing on critical minerals, energy, connectivity, and supply-chain diversification. BRICS in New Delhi: As BRICS leaders arrive for Sept. 12–13 talks, India’s chairship theme highlights resilience and sustainability, while business discussions push for linking payment systems and expanding digital trade.

Uzbek Alphabet Reform: Uzbekistan’s Senate has approved changes to the Uzbek Latin alphabet, expanding it to 28 letters plus one apostrophe. The update aims to fix long-running digital typing problems by giving separate symbols to sounds now written with letter pairs (e.g., Ş, Ç, Ö, Ğ), reducing confusion in software and search engines. BRICS Summit, Global South Agenda: India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12–13, with a theme centered on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability—covering food and energy security, disaster-risk reduction, and critical supply chains. BRICS Security Push: Delhi Police has mobilized more than 15,000 personnel and about 200 CAPF units for summit protection, alongside traffic restrictions and route “sanitization.” Tajikistan Construction Boom: Tajikistan has started building the Dushanbe Tower, promoted as Central Asia’s tallest structure, with plans for a 77-floor complex expected to reshape Dushanbe’s skyline over the next five years.