The state institution Project Office for the Development of Tourist Products under the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
The state institution Project Office for the Development of Tourist Products under the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
The Committee noted that this membership expands the country's opportunities to promote itself in the global MICE tourism market and attract major international business events.
According to the agency, membership in ICCA confirms Uzbekistan's recognition as a participant in the global MICE tourism market, which includes meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. This organization unites congress bureaus, tourist destinations, professional event organizers, and specialized companies from over 100 countries.
The Tourism Committee emphasized that participation in ICCA will allow Uzbekistan to interact directly with the international professional community involved in shaping the calendar of congresses, conferences, and other business events. This will create opportunities to prepare applications for hosting major international forums, participate in negotiations with industry associations, and promote the country as a venue for world-class events.
The agency added that the development of MICE tourism contributes to attracting high-spending visitors, which positively affects the hotel industry, public catering, transport, and other sectors of the economy. According to the committee, in addition to participating in business programs, attendees of international events visit cultural sites and get acquainted with the country's national cuisine and tourism infrastructure.
Furthermore, ICCA membership will provide access to an international analytical database on the congress and business events market, allow the application of global experience when preparing applications for international events, improve the qualifications of industry specialists, and expand cooperation with foreign partners.
The Tourism Committee specifically noted that joining ICCA is a continuation of the work carried out in recent years to develop tourism infrastructure, increase the hotel stock, build modern convention centers, develop international air connections, and promote Uzbekistan's tourism potential on the world stage.
The Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has approved Uzbekistan as the host country for the AFC U-17 Cup in 2027. This decision was made at the organization's last meeting.
Furthermore, the committee confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the AFC U-17 Cup in 2029. Japan was also selected to hold the AFC U-23 Cup in 2028.
This tournament will serve as a qualifying competition for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Amendments to the rules governing AFC club and youth competitions were approved at the meeting. Starting from the 2026/27 season, the AFC Elite Champions League will be held in a new format involving 32 teams. These changes will also affect the qualification system for the AFC U-20 Cup.
Uzbekistan has officially joined the International Institute of Welding (IIW). This membership opens up new opportunities for implementing global standards, improving professional training, and enhancing the quality of industrial production.
Uzbekistan's official welcome into the IIW community took place during the organization's 79th General Assembly in 2026. Welding technologies are widely used in fields such as mechanical engineering, energy, construction, the oil and gas sector, railway transport, and equipment manufacturing. Improving the quality of welding work directly affects the reliability and safety of industrial products and critical infrastructure.
Membership in the IIW provides access to a global ecosystem of specialists and technologies, uniting researchers, industry leaders, and educational institutions. The Institute focuses on knowledge exchange, the development of joining and welding technologies, the creation of international standards, and the improvement of education, qualification, and certification systems.
For Uzbekistan, membership paves the way for integrating internationally recognized specialist training systems. The IIW supports standardized qualification pathways, including International Level Welding Engineer, International Level Welding Technologist, International Level Welding Specialist, International Level Welding Practitioner, and International Level Welding Inspector.
It is expected that harmonizing national qualification requirements with global benchmarks will increase the competitiveness of Uzbek specialists and simplify the integration of local enterprises into global supply chains. Adherence to international norms regarding the quality of welded joints, production processes, and personnel qualifications is also a vital condition for participation in major international projects in industry and infrastructure.
A key focus will be the formation of a national system for training and certifying specialists. The IIW offers globally unified training models and mechanisms for authorizing national organizations conducting accredited programs. The Almalik State Technical Institute has been officially designated as Uzbekistan's national representative in the IIW. Membership lays the foundation for creating a national infrastructure for international qualification and certification in welding.
Active participation in IIW working groups will allow Uzbek specialists to interact with the international expert community, participate in technical discussions, and apply advanced industry practices. This is particularly relevant against the backdrop of the development of automated, robotic, and digital manufacturing technologies. Thus, joining the IIW serves as a strategic impetus for modernizing Uzbekistan's industry, developing its workforce, implementing global quality standards, and expanding export potential.
The Uzbekistan Chess Federation has announced the launch of a nationwide digital campaign titled 'Support the Uzbekistan Team – Make Your Move!' on the international chess platform idChess.
This initiative was launched simultaneously with International Chess Day and preparations for the Olympiad World Chess Championship, which will be held for the first time in Samarkand from September 15 to 27, 2026. The project aims to engage residents of the country in supporting the national team, uniting sports, business, youth, and digital technologies ahead of the upcoming chess event.
As part of the campaign, users will be able to participate in mass online tournaments through the mobile applications of partner companies. The organizers expect to collect one million played games, each symbolizing support for the national team both before and during the Olympiad.
The idChess platform serves as a strategic partner to the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, providing the technological foundation for the project. Its responsibilities include conducting online tournaments, broadcasting offline competitions, integrating chess mechanics into partners' digital services, and providing analytical and technical support.
The Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation, Bobur Sattarov, noted that chess has become part of the country's cultural code and a symbol of intellectual achievement. According to Sattarov, the Olympiad in Samarkand provides an opportunity to unite society around the national team, popularize chess, develop digital infrastructure, and attract business representatives to this process.
Petr Chernyshev, founder of idChess and CEO of Friflex, stated that the goal of the initiative is to become the largest regional mass digital chess project. He added that the platform will allow brands and users to connect through chess tournaments, giving every resident of the country a sense of belonging to the national team.
The organizers emphasized that the project is open to leading brands and companies in Uzbekistan. Participation in the campaign will give enterprises the opportunity to support the Olympiad World Chess Championship and contribute to the development of chess in the country.
