The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reviewed a number of strategic proposals aimed at combating desertification and creating a sustainable 'desert economy.' These initiatives include expanding afforestation, finding new sources of income on saline lands, promoting ecotourism, and launching scientific projects on sustainable natural resource management.
According to the presidential press service, strategies to prevent land degradation were integrated into a broader presentation that also introduced the principles of ecological urban planning within the framework of the 'Green Samarkand' sustainable development model. It was noted that about 80% of Uzbekistan's territory consists of desert and semi-desert zones.
Environmental problems are particularly acute in the western regions of the country, where soil salinization, strong dust storms, and dry winds have intensified due to the shrinking of the Aral Sea. Protective afforestation work continues in the Aral Sea basin to mitigate these consequences.
Halophytic and drought-resistant flora, including Saxaul (Haloxylon), is systematically planted to stabilize desert sands and limit the atmospheric spread of dust and toxic salts. Over the past years, more than two million hectares of protective green cover have been successfully created on the open, dry bed of the Aral Sea. Concurrently, the nationwide project 'Yashil Maqon' (Green Space) has overseen the planting of over one billion trees and shrubs across the country.
Thanks to these joint measures, the overall green cover rate in Uzbekistan has increased from 8% to 14.3% over the last five years. A new phase of anti-desertification initiatives is planned for the period 2026–2030. The state plans to create and restore 1.27 million hectares of forest land, as well as secure 16,000 hectares of protective belts covering desert, foothill, and mountainous areas.
Planned regional tasks include planting 10,000 hectares of greenery in the Sunikandarya region, constructing an 84-kilometer 'green wall' of protective trees in the border areas of the Syrdarya region, initiating terraced afforestation in high-altitude zones, and testing advanced agricultural technologies on degraded soils.
Significant attention is paid to developing a specialized 'desert economy.' Priority development areas in this field include breeding specialized seeds, cultivating salt-tolerant halophytic crops, supporting optimized livestock farming, and increasing pasture productivity. The model also provides for expanding regional ecotourism and targeted scientific research.
As part of the structural plan, special nurseries for desert flora will be built in the Karakalpakstan Republic, and commercial pistachio plantations will be cultivated on the Babatag ridge. The government also discussed the creation of a regional seed and nursery bank specializing in drought-resistant crops.
To expand international cooperation in climate matters, the proposals call for activating the activities of the Central Asian Research Institute for Desertification Control and Green Economy Development, as well as strengthening joint regional efforts under the 'Green Shield' partnership program.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a set of proposals aimed at combating desertification, developing the economy in desert zones, and implementing the principles of creating a 'green city' in Uzbekistan.
Currently, climate change, water resource depletion, and land degradation are critical environmental problems for the entire Central Asian region, directly affecting food security and agriculture. Approximately 80% of Uzbekistan's territory consists of desert or semi-desert areas.
Salinization of soils, sand drifts, and strong dust storms pose a serious threat to the Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Navoi, Khorezm, as well as parts of Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Jizzakh regions. The situation has been exacerbated by the drying up of the Aral Sea, which has transformed into the Aralkum Desert.
Systematic planting of saxaul and other resilient species continues in the Aral Sea region. Over the past years, more than 2 million hectares of new forest plantations have been formed on the dried seabed. The 'Yashil Makon' project has demonstrated significant growth in greening across the country: from 8% in 2020 to 14.3% by 2025, thanks to the planting of over one billion seedlings.
The new phase of the strategy for the period 2026–2030 includes the creation and restoration of forests over an area of 1.27 million hectares, as well as the establishment of 16 thousand hectares of protective forest plantations in mountainous, foothill, and desert areas. Specifically, the planting of green cover is planned for 10 thousand hectares in the Surkhandarya region, and a 'green wall' of 84 kilometers will appear in the border areas of the Syrdarya region.
The head of state emphasized that desert lands should be viewed not only as an environmental problem but also as a potential source of economic growth. The 'desert economy' concept includes developing sustainable income sources on saline lands, cultivating halophytes, expanding livestock farming and ecotourism, and developing seed production of drought-resistant crops.
Specialized nurseries will be opened in Karakalpakstan, and pistachio plantations will be expanded in Babatag. Financing these measures will be provided by the regional seed bank and the attraction of private international investment.
The issue of strengthening environmental interaction in Central Asia was raised. Since land degradation does not recognize national borders, it was proposed to intensify the work of the Regional Scientific Research Center for Combating Desertification, increase the number of practical projects under the 'Green Shield' program, and jointly develop a strategy until 2040.
A key element of the presentation was the 'Green Samarkand' model. This metropolis, possessing historical significance and developed infrastructure, is slated to be transformed into a model of an ecologically sustainable and climate-adapted 'green city' of Central Asia.
By 2030, strict environmental goals are set for Samarkand: preventing the emission of 51.2 thousand tons of pollutants, reducing the concentration of hazardous particles PM2.5 and PM10 by 50% through the installation of filters on production facilities, reducing construction dust by 80%, and reducing harmful transport emissions by 50%. Additionally, the volume of waste in landfills must be halved, and the share of green areas must reach an average of 30%.
To monitor these large-scale processes, the 'Yashil Samarkand' project office is being established with the support of the regional hokimiyat and the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. A special ecological urban planning regime is being introduced in the city, obligating all new and reconstructed buildings to comply with 'green building' requirements, including the use of energy- and water-saving technologies.
Samarkand's transport policy includes purchasing 50 modern electric buses, installing 150 intelligent traffic lights, and fully transitioning all public transport and taxis to electric traction by 2030. The implementation of a 'Park & Ride' system and the gradual closure of the city center to private vehicles in favor of pedestrians and green spaces are planned.
To improve the microclimate in Samarkand, the creation of at least four artificial lakes, the construction of ten new fountains, and the restoration of 319 kilometers of irrigation networks are planned. Around the city, along the New Outer Ring Road, an extensive 'green belt' spanning 102.7 kilometers and covering 3532 hectares will be formed to provide protection against heat and dust.
In the field of urban planning, the construction of the ultra-modern 'Green City Samarkand' district, covering 300 hectares, is planned, where all infrastructure will meet high international ecological standards. Industrial enterprises will transition to digital monitoring and the 'Zero Visible Emission' concept, and eight largest factories of Hazard Categories I and II will be moved outside the city limits. The waste management system will be restructured according to the 'Zero Waste Samarkand' principle using smart photo- and video surveillance systems.
As part of the climate policy, the city will receive the 'Carbon Neutral Samarkand' roadmap and its own financial platform for climate projects, named the 'Green Samarkand Climate Finance Facility'. Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved all proposed measures, stating that their implementation will form the basis for transforming Samarkand into a leading regional center for green investments and innovation, and instructed responsible persons to begin practical work immediately.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, analyzed the development of the Trans-Afghan railway communication logistics system and improvements to transport infrastructure at the border on July 1, 2026. This was reported by the Hokim of the Surkhandarya region, Ulugbek Kosimov, in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 channel.
According to Kosimov, the discussion focused on a draft resolution that provides for the development of border logistics, offering incentives for investors, and allocating land for the construction of a new logistics center. The regional head noted that the throughput capacity at the Uzbek-Afghan border has significantly increased recently.
The number of transport corridors has increased from four to twelve, allowing the daily truck flow to rise from 350–400 units to 1000–1200 units. Furthermore, the railway cargo capacity has grown from 250 wagons to nearly 500 wagons daily. There is also a significant increase in cargo transportation through the river port: if more than 250,000 tons of cargo passed through the port last year, 220,000 tons were moved in the first six months of the current year alone.
The Hokim emphasized that the demand for logistics services from both foreign investors and local enterprises continues to grow. In response, the draft resolution provides for the allocation of 50 hectares of land in the border zone to create a modern logistics center, as well as granting a number of benefits. Proposals prepared at the request of Afghan entrepreneurs and Uzbek logistics companies were approved.
One of the issues discussed was the creation of a 'green corridor' for Afghan entrepreneurs, which would allow them to use existing international air routes. A special commission is planned to be established to implement this initiative. Proposals to simplify the re-export of goods from Afghanistan, particularly organic agricultural products that face specific difficulties in sales, were also discussed. These initiatives received support, and a commission will be formed to finalize them.
The Hokim of the Surkhandarya region concluded that the decisions made open up additional opportunities for entrepreneurs and should increase the investment attractiveness of the border area. Previously, plans were announced to specialize the Termez district as a 'gateway to the Trans-Afghan Corridor'; this district is intended to become a key logistics hub on the China—Central Asia—Trans-Afghan Corridor—Pakistan route. Issues regarding the construction of logistics centers, digitalization of the transport industry, and acceleration of customs clearance at border crossings were also reviewed during the meeting.
Uzbekistan has decided to attract investors to modernize fifty construction enterprises that currently operate below capacity. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued an instruction to approve the relevant program and complete all work by the end of the current year.
According to press secretary Sherzod Asadov, at a meeting dedicated to video selection, the head of state noted that current production capacities for cement, glass, ceramic tiles, and basalt are sufficient to meet the country's needs until 2035. Consequently, the focus in working with investors is shifting from increasing production volumes to developing and producing high value-added products.
As an example, the price difference is cited: a ton of basalt fabric is valued at $900, while a ton of basalt fiber costs $340. The country primarily produces grades 400 and 500 cement. Attracting capital investments into seventeen halted plants intended for producing specialized types of cement will open new market opportunities.
Furthermore, a task was set to create an electronic platform containing a list of construction materials possessing both local and international certifications. This should facilitate the process for buyers choosing certified national products. It is also planned that another 50 enterprises will obtain international certifications by the end of the year. Despite having a system for full reimbursement of certification costs in the industry, the lack of a unified database leads many buyers to prefer imported analogues.
This year, it is expected that over 900 new projects worth $11 billion will be launched, along with the commissioning of 622 projects worth $3.2 billion. These initiatives will create 21 thousand jobs. It is projected that the total production volume will exceed 65 trillion soums, with product localization amounting to 7.5 trillion soums, and exports reaching $1.5 billion.
Previously, the president instructed strengthening consumer confidence in domestically produced building materials. To achieve this goal, the importance of offering comprehensive solutions covering standards, quality, assortment, and pricing was emphasized.
