During her visit to the United States, Executive Director of the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation for Training Promising Personnel under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Gulnoza Ismailova, held talks with Atlantic Council’s leadership.

Ambassador, Senior Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, John Herbst, Senior Assistant Director and Lead Analyst for the Energy, Growth, and Security Program at the International Tax and Investment Center, Wesley Alexander Hill, attended the meeting. The parties discussed the prospects for establishing a strategic partnership and launching joint academic and expert exchange initiatives.

The organization of short- and medium-term educational and research programs in international relations, global security, economics, energy, and sustainable development is among the priorities of cooperation.

An initiative was also put forward to develop a special program for young professionals from Uzbekistan. It will include a series of lectures, master classes, workshops, and training sessions with the participation of experts from the Atlantic Council.

Special attention was paid to internships for representatives of Uzbekistan’s government, academic, and expert circles. It is planned to provide internship opportunities within the framework of existing projects and research programs of the Council for one to six months.

The parties also expressed interest in intensifying the visits of international experts to Uzbekistan. Work is underway to invite Atlantic Council analysts and academics to give public lectures, participate in expert events, and provide advisory support to the country’s reform processes.

Following the negotiations, an agreement was reached on preparing a draft memorandum of understanding to coordinate upcoming initiatives. Launching pilot programs as early as this year is being considered.

According to the participants, the planned cooperation will become an essential contribution to the development of Uzbekistan’s human and intellectual potential, strengthening international partnership, and deepening professional dialogue at the global level.

Aziza Alimova, UzA