Within the video bridge connecting Astana, Moscow, and Tashkent, experts are examining future directions of cross-border interaction between the two states.
This video bridge was organized ahead of the first meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The first meeting is scheduled for July 24, 2026, and will take place in the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan.
The upcoming summit plans to discuss a number of important issues, including expanding cooperation between the countries, implementing joint industrial projects, strengthening trade ties, and developing transit transport potential.
Participants in the video bridge exchanged views on the significance of this council, priority areas for developing interstate relations, and the expected outcomes of the meeting.
Among the participants in the video bridge were representatives from different cities: Anna Velikaya, senior research fellow of the E.M. Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke from Moscow. Alibek Tazhibayev, director of the 'Eurasian Monitoring' analytical center, participated from Astana. Bakhtiyor Ergashov, director of the 'Ma'no' research center, joined from Tashkent.
Nigina Tolibovna Rakhmonova will defend her doctoral dissertation in philosophical sciences. The topic of the dissertation is titled 'Spiritual Stability: Content and Criteria for Strengthening Faith.'
The dissertation, dedicated to the topic 'Ma'naviy barqarorlik: mazmuni va mezonlari mustahkamlash imoniyatlari,' will be defended by Nigina Tolibovna Rakhmonova under specialty 09.00.04 – 'Social Philosophy.' The defense will take place at a meeting of the Scientific Council awarding academic degrees DSc.03/2025.27.12.F.08.02, which will be held on July 30, 2026, at 12:00.
The defense will take place at Bukhara State University. Event address: 200118, Bukhara city, M.Iqbol street, house 11. The event will be held in the university's ARM building, in the 'Center of Reforms' hall. Contact details are available: phone (99865) 221-29-14, fax (99865) 221-57-27, and email buxdu_rektor@buxdu.uz.
A promising project for agricultural product processing is being implemented in the Syrdarya region. Yangiyul-Agro Star Company, registered in the Yangiyul district of Tashkent region, has launched the production and deep processing of industrial tomatoes using modern technologies in the Syrdarya region.
The tomato puree exported by the company is now supplied to European markets. This project is considered an important step towards increasing the added value of agricultural products in the country, expanding export geography, and enhancing the competitiveness of local producers internationally.
The project is being realized with the support of technologies from Art Konserva from Turkey, as well as using modern tomato slicing equipment from Genboy Makina. The introduction of innovative technologies has allowed the production process to accelerate by 3–4 times and reduce labor costs by 7–8 times. This contributes to achieving international quality standards, reducing losses, and increasing export volume.
To ensure the product meets the requirements of the European market, cooperation has been established with the Italian company Areafredda. Under this agreement, Italian agronomists directly participate in the planting, growing, and drying processes, providing local farmers with practical recommendations on advanced agricultural technologies.
Currently, the company grows high-yield industrial tomato varieties such as 'Grand', 'Ercole', and 'Marserio', whose breeding belongs to Italy, Turkey, Serbia, and Germany, on an area of 100 hectares in the Syrdarya region. The harvested crop is processed using modern technologies to obtain high-quality dried tomato product. Although the first batches were successfully exported to the Turkish market, supplies are now being made to European countries.
According to company head Alisher Ibragimov, a solid foundation has been created for entering European markets due to the availability of all necessary capabilities and trusting international partnerships. He emphasized that the current production capacity, modern technologies, and foreign partners form a strong basis for confidently entering European markets, which is one of the key achievements.
Another 'Government Hour' session was held in the Chamber of the Higher Majlis of the Legislature. During this meeting, the topic of measures taken regarding environmental protection, land and water resource conservation when using the Earth's crust, as well as compliance with safety requirements in the mining industry, was discussed.
On the issue included in the agenda, the Minister of Mining and Geology Bobur Islomov answered the deputies' questions. He emphasized that in recent years, systematic work has been carried out in the country on the rational use of the Earth's crust and mineral resources, preventing pollution of the environment and land during extraction, as well as on the reclamation of damaged lands and ensuring industrial safety in mining operations.
In particular, special attention is paid to the introduction of low-waste technologies and digitalization in extraction processes. Three-dimensional models of ores are being created, and precise and efficient mining operations are organized through 'smart' management systems. Products and waste obtained during extraction are processed and used as building materials.
Important steps are also being taken to digitize the sector, implement artificial intelligence technologies, and combat corruption factors. The 'Geomonitoring' information system has been introduced, which catalogs data on more than two thousand mineral deposit sites.
Internal supervisory structures have been created in the ministry and systemic organizations to combat corruption. Practical work is underway to prevent conflicts of interest, ensure transparency of procurement procedures, study appeals through communication channels, conduct service inspections, and implement digital control mechanisms.
According to the minister, 2085 hectares of damaged land were reclaimed in 2025. In the first half of 2026, reclamation work was carried out over an area of 340.8 hectares, and by the end of the year, it is planned to reach a figure of 1000 hectares.
To ensure transparency in the process of obtaining permits and creating equal opportunities for entrepreneurs, digitization efforts are being expanded. Electronic forms for issuing permits for gold prospectors and ore prospectors have been introduced through the 'E-Auction' and 'License' information systems. The system for registering water meters has been fully implemented based on the 'single window' principle, and 2663 water meters have been registered.
Nevertheless, despite the measures taken to regulate the use of underground water resources and drilling wells, 698 cases of illegal well drilling and groundwater use were identified in 2025.
During the discussion, deputies paid special attention to issues of ensuring environmental safety when using the Earth's crust, accelerating the reclamation of damaged lands, rational use of groundwater, preventing illegal well drilling, as well as strengthening industrial safety at mining and oil and gas industry facilities.
Deputies put forward a number of proposals concerning the acceleration of digitalization processes in the sector, reducing human error in permit issuance procedures, broader use of artificial intelligence potential, and constant identification of corruption risks and ensuring the transparency of supervisory activities.
Members of the UzLipDep faction expressed interest in what additional measures are being taken to fully digitize the licensing and permitting system, ensure transparency of work processes, and completely eliminate human error in the effective use of mineral resources using modern technologies.
Members of the Milli Tiklanish DP faction asked about the measures being taken to organize mining operations in accordance with environmental requirements, particularly regarding the improvement of blasting technology and practices, as well as strengthening safety measures.
Representatives of the Adolat SDP faction raised questions about reducing the volume of ores and waste generated in the mining industry, their processing or disposal, as well as the effectiveness of responsibility measures and ensuring the rule of law in the sector.
Members of the UzKhDP faction were interested in the measures being taken to further strengthen labor protection and industrial safety in the mining industry, prevent accidents at hazardous production facilities, improve employee qualifications, and ensure their safe working conditions.
Members of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan expressed their opinion on the need to ensure the installation of water meters on facilities for drawing underground water, strengthen groundwater monitoring in areas of declining groundwater levels, and ensure compliance with the moratorium introduced in 21 regions on well drilling and groundwater use.
The minister provided detailed explanations on all issues raised by the deputies, presenting information on the work being carried out in the sector, existing problems, and established priority tasks for their resolution. Agreement was reached on the need to ensure effective parliamentary oversight of the reforms being carried out in the field of rational use of the Earth's crust, environmental protection, preservation of land and water resources, strict compliance with safety requirements in the mining industry, as well as digitalization and prevention of corruption in the sector.
