At the current stage of global development, the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal action plan until 2030, represent a key benchmark for the national policy of any country striving for a harmonious balance of economic growth, social justice, and responsible management of natural resources. In this regard, the experience of Uzbekistan undoubtedly deserves special attention.

A distinctive feature of Uzbekistan’s state policy in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals is the priority given to human dignity. This principle reflects the recognition that the individual is the highest value of society and the state, and that all government institutions must act with respect for their rights and freedoms.

Over recent years, the country has demonstrated significant progress across many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, achieving tangible results in poverty reduction, the development of the education system, healthcare improvement, promotion of green energy, and the enhancement of legal institutions. These achievements are supported not only by economic indicators but also by a strengthening legal framework, parliamentary and public oversight institutions, and active participation in international initiatives, all of which testify to a systemic and comprehensive approach to sustainable development.

First and foremost, an important confirmation of the effectiveness of the reforms underway has been the improvement in the country’s positions in international rankings. According to the 2025 report by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Uzbekistan ranked 62nd among countries worldwide, scoring 73 points — an improvement of 19 places compared to the previous year. Such progress, achieved in a relatively short period, reflects the state’s efforts to transform its economic and social model towards greater openness, inclusiveness, and sustainability. Since 2017, Uzbekistan has been recognized as one of the regional leaders in implementing the SDGs in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, owing to both the reforms being carried out and the establishment of an effective institutional and regulatory framework supporting these transformations.

Particular attention deserves the legal foundation for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which has been significantly strengthened in recent years. Notably, a key milestone was the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October 20, 2018, No. 841, “On measures to implement the National Goals and Objectives in the field of Sustainable Development until 2030.” This document became a fundamental step in adapting the global sustainable development agenda to the country’s national priorities. Furthermore, the establishment of a special parliamentary commission within the country’s parliament—the Oliy Majlis—to oversee the implementation of national sustainable development goals until 2030 has provided political and legislative support for the sustainable development program, created conditions for parliamentary oversight, and engaged the deputies in monitoring the relevant strategies and programs.

In this context, it is particularly noteworthy that on December 14, 2022, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved the resolution “Enhancing the Role of Parliaments in Accelerating the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The initiator of this resolution was the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who proposed it at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in 2020. This step vividly reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to the principles of global responsibility and international partnership in implementing the SDGs.

Within the framework of national monitoring, Uzbekistan has identified 190 priority SDG indicators adapted to national conditions. Of these, 128 indicators are currently available on the official national statistics portal (nsdg.stat.uz), including detailed data on areas such as decent work, industrialization, poverty reduction, healthcare, and gender equality. Thus, the country ensures transparency and accessibility of statistical data for a wide range of stakeholders, which is especially important for objectively assessing progress, identifying problem areas, and timely policy adjustments.

Equally important is economic sustainability, which plays a decisive role in achieving most of the SDGs. Economic growth provides the means to invest in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social protection.

Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan’s economy has demonstrated stable and dynamic growth: the gross domestic product has more than doubled, reaching approximately 115 billion US dollars, with forecasts predicting growth to 130 billion by 2025. At the same time, the volume of foreign direct investment has significantly increased, exceeding 130 billion dollars. This revival of the investment climate has been made possible by consistent economic liberalization policies, the creation of favorable conditions for business, and the expansion of public-private partnership mechanisms.

Moreover, the growth of the country’s financial reserves, which have exceeded 48 billion dollars for the first time, indicates increased resilience of the financial system and growing trust from international investors.

Uzbekistan’s exports have reached 26 billion dollars, reflecting positive dynamics associated with diversification of production and entry of national products into new markets. State programs for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, which provide employment for over 10 million people, have played an important role in stimulating entrepreneurship and increasing household incomes. This year alone, about 9,000 new enterprises and service infrastructure facilities are planned to be launched, with investments totaling 35 billion dollars.

Particular note should be made of the successes in social protection and poverty reduction. The poverty rate has decreased from 35 percent to 6.8 percent over a few years, which is a clear demonstration of the high effectiveness of ongoing reforms. In particular, the introduction of targeted assistance mechanisms and priority attention to vulnerable groups—large families, pensioners, orphans, and people with disabilities—have significantly improved the quality of social support. The “Khamrohlyk” program, covering more than 11,000 children deprived of parental care, provides them with opportunities for education and vocational training, facilitating their integration into society.

Overall, more than 2.5 million members of needy families receive over 110 types of state assistance, demonstrating the scale and depth of social protection. Funding for the social sector in 2025 is estimated at around 19 trillion Uzbek soms, confirming the priority of this area in state policy.

Achievements in human capital development, especially in education and healthcare, should also be emphasized. The coverage rate of preschool education has reached 78 percent, with more than 2.5 million new places created in kindergartens. In the school system, more than one million additional places have been created, practically ensuring universal coverage of school-age children.

Significant progress has also been made in higher education: student enrollment has increased from 9 to 42 percent, with more than half of them being female, indicating achievement of gender balance and expanded opportunities for women.

Over two thousand students study abroad, more than 750 of whom receive government scholarships, contributing to the formation of a highly qualified generation of specialists.

In healthcare, there has been a significant increase in the accessibility and quality of medical services. Funding has increased sixfold, and more than 400 types of high-tech procedures have become available to residents of regions that previously had to rely on services concentrated in Tashkent. The average life expectancy has increased from 73.8 to 75.1 years, indicating positive shifts in the healthcare system. Hospital modernization programs, professional development for doctors, telemedicine implementation, and improved access to medicines have greatly expanded medical coverage, especially in rural areas.

Environmental sustainability is another important area of sustainable development. Uzbekistan is actively transitioning to green energy: electricity generation has grown from 59 to 85 billion kilowatt-hours, with an expected increase to 97 billion by 2025. Renewable energy production already accounts for 6.5 billion kilowatt-hours, or about 30 percent of the total volume.

The government has set an ambitious goal to increase the share of renewable energy to 54 percent by 2030, attracting around 35 billion dollars in investments to this sector. In addition, the environmental program “Yashil Makon” (Green Space) is being implemented, aimed at large-scale greening of territories, forest restoration, and raising environmental awareness among the population, which contributes to the formation of “green” cities with a high level of ecological safety.

In conclusion, the following key points can be made:

Firstly, Uzbekistan demonstrates significant and comprehensive progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, covering key areas—economy, social sphere, and environment.

Secondly, strengthening the legal framework and creating institutional mechanisms ensure a systematic and consistent approach to achieving set objectives.

Thirdly, transparency and accessibility of data facilitate objective evaluation of results and timely policy adjustments.

Moreover, sustainable economic growth and active investment attraction create a reliable financial foundation for further development. Social protection and poverty reduction attest to the high quality of ongoing reforms and a focus on supporting vulnerable population groups. Another important achievement is the development of human capital through education and healthcare, which lays the foundation for future generations.

Thus, Uzbekistan’s sustainable development represents an example of a successful combination of reforms, institutional support, and international cooperation, providing confidence in achieving the SDGs by 2030 and creating a model path of development for the region.

The upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly will be another important platform where Uzbekistan will reaffirm its firm commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of global partnership.

Uzbekistan’s participation in this session will emphasize its role as an active and responsible player on the international stage, ready to share its own experience and adopt the best global practices to achieve comprehensive and harmonious development.

Farrukh Ermanov

Leading Researcher, Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan