According to a special study by the UN interagency coordination mechanism, UN-Water, Uzbekistan has been included in the list of countries demonstrating accelerated progress in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Clean Water and Sanitation.
The report, titled 'Case Study: SDG 6 Country Acceleration: Uzbekistan,' analyzes the comprehensive reforms implemented in the country in the field of water resource management. The authors note that over the past years, Uzbekistan has significantly increased water use efficiency through large-scale institutional transformations, the introduction of digitalization, the use of modern irrigation technologies, the expansion of international cooperation, and the attraction of both public and private investments. These measures have allowed the country to achieve measurable progress despite a high level of water stress.
The UN-Water report pays particular attention to the development of water-saving technologies. Experts emphasize that the increased application of drip irrigation and other modern methods has been a key factor in reducing water consumption in agriculture. Uzbekistan's experience is presented as a practical model for other countries facing water scarcity.
The study contains specific data confirming the effectiveness of the implemented policies: between 2017 and 2021, the volume of freshwater withdrawal in Uzbekistan decreased from 58.9 billion cubic meters to 42.5 billion cubic meters. During the same period, the national water stress indicator fell from 169% to 122%, which the report recognizes as a significant improvement in global water resource management under SDG 6.
As an example of successful digital transformation, UN-Water points to the mobile application 'Tomchi.' It provides farmers with up-to-date information on water-saving technologies, irrigation schedules, government subsidies, preferential loans, and equipment suppliers. This project was implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Furthermore, the report details achievements in digital monitoring systems, including the deployment of a network of smart sensors on major reservoirs to track water levels and hydraulic infrastructure in real time. Uzbekistan's National Space Agency, Uzbekcosmos, conducts satellite monitoring of all national reservoirs to improve drought and flood forecasting.
UN-Water particularly highlights the work of the Scientific and Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), based in Tashkent. Since 2007, this center has annually published analytical assessments for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, providing data on river flows, reservoir volumes, and water withdrawals. UN experts note that such a system strengthens regional trust and promotes cross-border cooperation in water resources.
The Aral Sea restoration program is also named a critical element of the country's environmental reforms. The report emphasizes that the large-scale afforestation project on the dried bed of the Aral Sea—mainly through planting drought-resistant saxaul—is one of the world's largest nature restoration initiatives, helping to mitigate dust storms and restore local ecosystems.
UN-Water experts also highly praised the country's growing academic and scientific potential, naming the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Basin and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Machinery National Research University as leading innovation centers. The study emphasizes that these results were achieved through the application of five main pillars of the Global Framework Programme for Accelerating SDG 6: governance, financing, capacity building, data and information, and innovation. The basis of this success was high political support and consistent institutional changes.
Nevertheless, the report points to persistent challenges. Uzbekistan needs to continue working to reduce water withdrawal to an ecologically sustainable level, strengthen the protection of groundwater resources, implement technologies to minimize water losses, and deepen joint transboundary water management with neighboring states.
According to UN-Water, Uzbekistan's strategic approach can serve as a guide for other Central Asian countries and water regions worldwide. It is planned that the results of the country's reforms will be presented to the international community at the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi in December 2026, as well as at the World Water Forum to be held in Samarkand.
Climate change and water scarcity have become critical factors for the global agricultural sector. Analysts view Uzbekistan as one of the potentially strong exporters of fruit and vegetable products, but this is only possible with increased investment in irrigation systems and the adoption of climate-resilient technologies.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), natural disasters caused $3.26 trillion in damage to agriculture between 1991 and 2023, resulting in the loss of 2.8 billion tons of fruits and vegetables.
Katerina Zvereva, head of the international platform EastFruit and an agribusiness specialist, emphasizes that climate threats are no longer temporary problems but are now a key element determining profitability and investment directions in the industry. The expert noted that since drought is responsible for 54% of losses in European agriculture, water inevitably becomes one of the most important strategic resources in fruit and vegetable production.
According to her forecasts, by 2030, the availability of a reliable irrigation system could influence producers' competitiveness even more significantly than the size of their agricultural land.
Researchers note that Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing fruit and vegetable markets in Central Asia. The country is actively increasing the volume of production and export of crops such as cherries, table grapes, stone fruits, and vegetables. Uzbekistan's advantages include low labor costs, high production potential, and existing investments in logistics, cold storage facilities, and modern warehouses.
The country's strengthening position in the global fruit and vegetable market depends on continued investment in climate-resilient methods and irrigation.
The further development of the agricultural sector is directly linked to the efficiency of water resource management. Uzbekistan, along with Spain, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey, is among the group of countries where fruit and vegetable production is extremely sensitive to water availability. In the coming years, access to modern irrigation systems will determine the sustainability of plantations, crop selection, final cost, and overall business profitability.
According to experts, the global market is moving towards a new paradigm where producers who can effectively use water, implement advanced irrigation methods, and create developed infrastructure for export and storage will gain an advantage.
Previously, three state agencies of Uzbekistan approved the Concept of Integrated Water Resource Management of the Lower Amu Darya. This document aims to minimize environmental risks, preserve ecosystems, and ensure rational water use.
The authorities of Uzbekistan have announced their intention to ensure constant access to drinking water for 90% of the country's residents by 2030. This information was shared by a correspondent from Podrobno.uz at a meeting of the Expert Council held in Tashkent.
Currently, access to drinking water supply covers approximately 83% of the population. About 2 billion dollars has already been invested to improve the situation in the water sector. Furthermore, an additional minimum of 1.3 billion dollars is planned to be attracted by 2030 for the development of the drinking water supply system.
State bodies are paying significant attention to reducing the load on water reserves. If in 2017 water was used on 0.4% of irrigated lands, this percentage is expected to increase to 60% by 2026. Thanks to the application of methods such as canal concreting, digitalization, and the introduction of advanced technologies, the annual water savings amount to about 11 billion cubic meters.
Water issues affect a number of areas, including ecology, energy, industry, agriculture, and interregional cooperation. Ensuring a sustainable water future is only possible with the coordinated work of all relevant departments. Previously, the revised draft of the 'Uzbekistan–2030' strategy also mentioned plans to provide water to the population.
A new stage of reforming the state procurement system is being prepared in Uzbekistan, with the goal of strengthening the involvement of local producers, reducing dependence on imports, and making the process more transparent for the business community.
At the first meeting of the Council of the Association of Public Procurement Participants, authorities presented an analysis of the current situation and outlined plans for further modernization of the system. Jakhongir Yunusov, Deputy Director of the Agency for Industrial Cooperation and Public Procurement, reported that the total volume of state procurement reached 70 trillion soums last year. However, despite this, a large part of these funds continues to be directed towards imported products, while the contribution of domestic producers remains insufficient.
Yunusov noted that there are companies in the country with serious production capacities and high turnover that could participate in public procurement but are not properly represented in the system. The central problem identified at the meeting is not the lack of local producers, but their low participation in procurement procedures.
According to Yunusov, many enterprises produce competitive products with large output volumes, but they lack understanding of the public procurement mechanisms: they do not know where to apply, what documents to prepare, or how to enter the system.
As a result, local products often enter public procurement not directly, but through intermediaries. These third parties purchase goods from local producers, add a significant markup, and participate in the tender in their own name. According to the agency's estimates, this can lead to the state paying for local goods twice their actual market value.
The agency believes that it is critically important to raise producers' awareness. This task includes not only explaining legislative norms but also providing practical assistance to companies in registering on platforms, preparing necessary documentation, meeting customer requirements, and participating correctly in tenders.
To eliminate these difficulties, the Agency for Industrial Cooperation and Public Procurement is implementing a set of measures to support domestic production. The agency itself was established by a presidential decree dated February 4, 2026, which transferred tasks, functions, and powers in the field of public procurement to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and also enshrined the course toward developing industrial cooperation and local production.
Support measures include providing preferential financing through commercial banks. It is planned to issue loans at 6% per annum in foreign currency and 12% in national currency for up to ten years with a two-year grace period. The total lending volume may reach 5 trillion soums.
Direct subsidies are also provided for enterprises engaged in import substitution. The state is ready to compensate up to 30% of the costs for developing new goods and services, provided that the funding for one project does not exceed 1 million dollars. Yunusov emphasized that this is not temporary aid to individual firms, but systemic support for local industry. The goal of the reform is for public procurement to transform from a simple supplier selection procedure into an effective tool for stimulating domestic production.
Parallel to financial measures, the agency is beginning to implement educational initiatives for all participants in the public procurement system. Free online courses are being developed jointly with procurement platform operators for public customers. The program will cover issues of registration, document preparation, tender participation strategies, and other practical aspects of procurement processes.
Anvar Mukhitdinov, Chairman of the Association of Public Procurement Participants, stressed that success in this system depends not only on knowing the laws but also on having practical skills, as many disputes and violations in tenders occur due to a lack of information among participants.
The courses will be posted on the official websites of the agency and state procurement operators, ensuring content accessibility for the entire spectrum of market participants—from public buyers to novice suppliers.
The creation of a specialized academy to train specialists in the field of public procurement, based on global experience, is also being discussed. The concept of this academy differs from a university one: the focus is on the practical experience of instructors who work directly in the field and understand the real problems of the system. Training will be designed for both customers and suppliers.
Another area of reform is establishing constant contact between the state, business, and the expert community. On June 11 in Tashkent, an open dialogue on public procurement took place, attended by producers, suppliers, government representatives, and experts. More than 100 suggestions, complaints, and appeals from market participants were collected as a result of the meeting.
These appeals were categorized into nine areas, including barriers for SMEs, qualification requirements, technical specifications, bid evaluation, operation of electronic platforms, contractual relations, and proposals for changing the regulatory framework. It is planned to hold such dialogues every two months, and the meetings of the APPP Council—quarterly. Organizers see this mechanism as a way not just to record grievances, but to find solutions based on the consensus of all market participants.
Based on the identified problems, the agency has prepared a draft presidential decree on the in-depth reform of public procurement, which is currently being coordinated with relevant ministries. Yunusov stated that adopting this decree will help solve a number of systemic issues for both entrepreneurs and budget savings. The draft pays special attention to the training and retraining of personnel involved in the public procurement system.
The draft provides for mandatory training for both the private and public sectors. These measures are intended to raise the professional level of participants and minimize procedural errors. Agency representatives assert that this policy aligns with global trends, as public procurement has long been used in developed countries to support national production; for example, the US and China have requirements for the share of domestic products in contracts.
Yunusov added that this policy does not contradict Uzbekistan's obligations to the World Trade Organization, as support measures for local production are permissible within international agreements provided that local industry develops and the budget is used effectively. The approval of the decree, the launch of online courses, the holding of new market meetings, and the start of work on the public procurement academy are expected soon. The effectiveness of the reforms will be measured by the growth in the share of domestic products in public procurement, as the current situation, where local goods cost twice their market price, leads to unjustified budget spending.
