Ashrsf AboArafe writes ✍️
SAMARKAND – Standing at the historic crossroads of the Great Silk Road, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), signaling a transformative era for Uzbekistan. His remarks framed a nation no longer just in transition, but emerging as a leading platform for global discourse and a technologically driven growth model for Central Asia.
The address was a masterclass in balancing reverence for the past with a relentless drive toward modernization, positioning Uzbekistan as the “New Uzbekistan”—a state where innovation and knowledge serve as the primary currency of the 21st century.
A Decade of Metamorphosis
President Mirziyoyev outlined a decade of radical shifts, noting that since 2016, the nation has moved from isolation toward liberalizing the economy and participating in global value chains. The results are stark:
-
The economy has ballooned from $50 billion to $147 billion.
-
Foreign investment reached a staggering $150 billion.
-
Poverty rates plummeted from nearly 35% to 5.8%.
The President’s vision for 2030 is even bolder: a $240 billion economy and the complete eradication of poverty. To fuel this, he announced that 30% of the National Investment Fund—encompassing 13 strategic giants—will be offered on international capital markets, a move designed to cement global trust.
The Digital and Green Frontier
Central to the address was the marriage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Green Energy. Acknowledging that AI will revolutionize trade and energy demand, Mirziyoyev proposed:
-
An Artificial Intelligence Hub in Uzbekistan to train “Five Million AI Leaders.”
-
A proposal for a “Digital Highway for Asia” regional center in Tashkent.
-
The launch of the Central Asia–Europe “green” energy corridor, turning the region into a global “energy artery.”
With “green” energy already at 30% of generation, the President aims for 54% by 2030, asserting that competitiveness in the modern market depends solely on cheap, reliable, and “green” energy.
Geopolitical Logistics: Breaking Boundaries
In a world fraught with conflict and rising freight costs, Mirziyoyev championed the “China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan” railway. This project is set to cut delivery times by 10 days, effectively making Uzbekistan a linchpin of Eurasian transit. To complement this physical infrastructure, he proposed a “Digital Customs and Logistics Alliance” to strip away the bureaucracy of the past.
A Call for Regional Unity
The President didn’t just speak for Uzbekistan; he spoke for the soul of Central Asia. His proposals were deeply collaborative:
-
Critical Minerals: Inviting the ADB to help Uzbekistan move from simple extraction to deep processing of copper, tungsten, and lithium.
-
Climate Action: The “Central Asia Green Belt” to combat desertification.
-
Tourism: The creation of a “Central Asia Tourism Ring,” a unified destination to showcase the region’s scientific and spiritual treasury.
The Journalist’s Take
The Samarkand forum represents more than a financial meeting; it is Uzbekistan’s sovereign credit rating come to life. By signing a new $12 billion cooperation program with the ADB, Mirziyoyev has secured the fuel for his “New Uzbekistan” engine.
The President’s message was clear: Uzbekistan is no longer just a stop on the Silk Road—it is the architect of the road’s digital successor. As the 4,000 delegates depart the historic city of Samarkand, they carry with them a blueprint for a nation that intends to be technologically and innovation-driven, proving that even the oldest civilizations can find a second wind in the age of the supercomputer.
