Uzbekistan has shown remarkable progress in its transition towards a market-based economy, demonstrating considerable potential for sustainable development and transition towards a circular economy. Innovation, the broad experimentation with new ways of creating value, plays a significant role in exploiting this potential and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, such as environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.

To support innovation and development in the country, UNECE is launching the first Innovation for Sustainable Development Review (I4SDR) of Uzbekistan. UNECE’s flagship publication assesses innovation policy governance, processes, and mechanisms providing concrete policy recommendations. Funded by the Russian Federation, the I4SDR research process involved hundreds of innovation stakeholders and will feed into forthcoming strategic documents and policy support activities, such as those under the national innovation strategy 2022-2030.

UNECE also supports Uzbekistan’s cotton and textile industry, a particularly critical driver of economic development accounting for 18 per cent of Uzbekistan’s GDP, 30 per cent of its exports, and 30 per cent of the industrial workforce. UNECE’s work on advancing innovation and sustainable business models, and implementing cotton traceability mechanisms strengthen the sector, foster greater resource use efficiency, and increase Uzbekistan’s trade competitiveness. UNECE and the International Trade Centre are jointly implementing a project on Enhancing Traceability and Transparency for Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector funded by the European Union. The UN-brokered policy recommendations, information exchange standards and calls to action, known as the Sustainability Pledge, enable garment and footwear companies to trace their materials through the value chain and make verifiable claims about their sustainability performance. Within this framework, UNECE promotes innovative technologies, such as Blockchain and the Internet of Things, to enhance the transparency of value chain activities.

The high-level event will be opened by H.E. Abduraxmonov, Minister of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan, Ms. Algayerova, UNECE Executive Secretary, and Ms. Asthana, United Nations Resident Coordinator and bring together Uzbek ministers and deputy ministers, national innovation stakeholders, (inter-)national experts, international partner organisations and the UNECE secretariat.

To join and receive further information on the event, please register here.