Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan continues to expand its international partnerships in the agricultural sector, strengthening ties with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Hungarian Research Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture (HAKI).

A meeting took place at the FAO Regional Office in Budapest between FAO Deputy Director-General Viorel Gutu and a delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Alisher Shukurov. The delegation also included Ulugbek Khusainov from the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan, as well as Obidjon Khurramov and Azamat Kurultaev from the Presidential Administration.

The main topic of discussion was the transformation of FAO’s country office in Uzbekistan to enhance the organization’s presence in the region. Viorel Gutu emphasized that expanding the office and strengthening cooperation with key stakeholders would create new opportunities for joint projects.

Special attention was given to Uzbekistan’s role in the Regional Commission for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CACFish) and the use of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme to mobilize resources.

At the end of the meeting, the Uzbek delegation invited FAO representatives to participate in an international climate change event scheduled for April 2025 in Uzbekistan.

Additionally, the delegation held talks with the leadership of the HAKI research center, where they were received by Dr. Gergő Gyalog, the center’s director, and Gyula Kovács, head of the Fish Biology and Gene Banks Department for Carp and Sturgeon.

The discussions were held within the framework of a Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2023 between the Uzbekbaliksanoat Association, Uzbekistan’s Fisheries Research Institute, and the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

"Partnerships with FAO and leading research institutions like HAKI represent a significant step in modernizing Uzbekistan’s agro-industrial complex. Joint initiatives in climate adaptation, water resource management, and aquaculture development contribute to a more sustainable and productive future for the sector," said Alisher Shukurov.

Experts believe that active international cooperation will serve as a catalyst for introducing advanced technologies and global best practices in Uzbekistan’s agriculture and aquaculture industries.