The Uzbek Minister of Agriculture, His Excellency Jamshid Khodjaev, and IAMO Director Thomas Glauben signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Munich on 11 November to further intensify the cooperation between IAMO and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. The document establishes four main points: Firstly, the cooperation in modernising the education system of Tashkent State Agricultural University and other universities as well as various research institutes of the Ministry will be further developed. Secondly, research and teaching capacities are to be expanded in the field of digitalisation of the food economy in Uzbekistan. Thirdly, a systematic exchange of experience and know-how on the impacts of climate change and on corresponding adjustments in the Uzbek agricultural and food sector will be pursued. Finally, IAMO and the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture agree to cooperate intensively in the field of science-based transfer of policies and technologies.
With more than 32 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan is by far the most highly populated country in Central Asia and lies at the centre of the new Silk Road. It plays a key role in the region in terms of both economic and security policy and is therefore an important partner country for German development cooperation. In recent years, Uzbekistan's economy and agricultural sector have developed well. Important export products are gold, cotton, fruit and vegetables and natural gas. Uzbekistan also participates in some transnational regional projects of German development cooperation, among others in the areas of state rule of law, quality infrastructure, trade, sustainable use of natural resources, vocational training and drug prevention. These regional programmes are intended to facilitate an exchange of experience and strengthen cooperation between the Central Asian states. IAMO's goal is to use its research to contribute to the agricultural and food economy of its partner countries and to provide perspectives for innovation. In Uzbekistan, the Memorandum of Understanding has lifted the cooperation between research and politics on a new level. Glauben states: "The agricultural and food sector plays a key role in Uzbekistan's economic development, especially in the context of climate change and digitalisation. Therefore, intensive cooperation in the field of agro-economic research and education is of particular importance. IAMO considers the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry as an important cornerstone of further cooperation."
