Member of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Alisher Satvaldiev commented on the Address of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of the country:

– The Address of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people is a program document that summarizes the achievements and defines the country’s future goals in the socio-economic and cultural-political spheres. It highlights the results of the country’s large-scale reforms, which are clearly reflected in the daily lives of the population, as well as the growing social activity of people and their confidence in the future.

The Address outlines the path for political-economic reforms, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the country’s social development. The country’s leader also stressed the need to elevate friendly and strategic cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Kazakhstan, to a new level. The importance of cooperation in high technologies, digitalization and artificial intelligence, security and combating cyber fraud, water resources management, mahalla system and socio-economic issues, the need to shift the structure of the economy towards high-tech industries, the development of high-tech industries such as electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and mechanical engineering, as well as the expansion of information technology, artificial intelligence, financial technologies, consulting and transport and logistics services, was noted.

The Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy deserves high praise. It provides for the digitization of archives, the construction of 20 new data centers, the launch of a national cloud platform, and the training of 5 million people in artificial intelligence skills for citizens, teachers, and civil servants to make public services 100 percent online by 2030 and enter the top 30 of the e-government index.

In his Address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also announced plans to create supercomputers and laboratories at universities to support more than 100 artificial intelligence projects in areas such as fintech, biotechnology, medicine, geology, banking, and public safety, launch the country’s first cosmonaut into space, and launch a national satellite. These efforts will create digital clusters with neighboring countries, such as Kazakhstan, and strengthen the startup ecosystem. The aspirations are designed to enhance Uzbekistan’s international competitiveness and stimulate foreign investment.

Touching on challenges in water resources and agriculture, the Head of State stressed the need to increase agricultural productivity in the country through new technologies, bioengineering, and water-saving methods.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have common goals in this regard. In December 2025, the two countries launched a joint study to review irrigation regimes in Syrdarya River basin as part of a program by the French Development Agency (AFD). The project supports the modernization of irrigation systems across 550,000 hectares in Kazakhstan and 254,000 hectares in Uzbekistan, thereby reducing soil salinity and increasing productivity.

In addition, in September 2025, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed an energy-water agreement regulating the procedure for water intake from the Toktogul Reservoir and the exchange of electricity. This cooperation is essential for the agricultural and hydropower sectors of both countries.

The Head of Uzbekistan also emphasized the importance of strengthening efforts to combat crime and Internet fraud. In April 2025, the Presidential Decree “On measures aimed at strengthening the fight against crimes committed with the help of information technology” was adopted. According to Dentons' analysis, the resolution ensures coordination among government agencies, imposes additional obligations on banks and payment organizations in cases of cybercrime, and focuses on personal data protection.

Finally, the Head of State described the mahalla system as an institution of national solidarity in which every citizen sees himself. More than 90 percent of the population consider themselves members of the mahalla. He proposed declaring 2026 the Year of Mahalla Development and Social Prosperity and stressed the need to develop large-scale programs to transform the mahalla into centers of unity, justice, and education.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Address has set the path for future reforms in Uzbekistan and opened up new opportunities for partners in Central Asia. The proposals for strategic cooperation with Kazakhstan and the adopted legislative acts provide practical content to these prospects. The priorities outlined in the Address can become even stronger aspects of collaboration between our countries. And the coordination of actions across the legislative, technological, social, and security spheres will provide a solid foundation for the great goal of Central Asian integration.

I.Abdukhalikov, UzA