Press Release

FAO’s work recognized with Uzbekistan’s agricultural award

02 February 2021

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu received today Uzbekistan’s state agricultural award on behalf of the Organization in recognition of its active support for the development of the country’s agri-food sector. This high state honor was established by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2017 on the occasion of the national Agriculture Workers’ Day.

During a virtual award ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sherzod Asadov said: “Uzbekistan highly appreciates and values the level and dynamics of our cooperation with FAO. We are grateful to you personally and FAO in general for your Organization’s very active role in elaborating the agricultural development strategy of Uzbekistan until 2030”.

Asadov referred to cooperation with FAO as one of the priority directions of Uzbekistan’s foreign economic policy and pledged his country’s full support to various FAO international and regional initiatives including Hand-in Hand Initiative, South-South Cooperation, Global Soil Partnership and others.

Accepting the award, the Director-General thanked the Government of Uzbekistan and expressed his satisfaction with growing cooperation between the country and the Organization.

“I consider the award today is being given in recognition of the work the Organization is doing in Uzbekistan. We have to do more to offer adequate service to all members, including Uzbekistan”, he said, emphasizing the important role Uzbekistan could play in the region and globally.

FAO’s cooperation with Uzbekistan covers a wide range of areas focusing on development of sustainable agri-food value chains, innovative climate-smart practices, and sustainable natural resource management, including land rehabilitation and the establishment of a national forest inventory and monitoring system. At present, FAO’s portfolio in the country consists of more than 20 national, regional and global projects.

Earlier this year, the parties signed an agreement for establishing the Uzbekistan Lounge, the first contribution from an FAO Member to the planned transformation of the public space at FAO’s headquarters – all with the aim to create an innovative space for showcasing agriculture and technology and facilitating knowledge exchange.

In November 2020, Uzbekistan virtually hosted the FAO Regional Conference, which covers Europe and Central Asia region (ERC), and the country’s Minister for Agriculture, Jamshid Khodjaev remains Chairperson of the ERC in the intersessional period.