Relations between Uzbekistan and Finland’s expert circles are expanding
The Executive Director of the Development Strategy Center Eldor Tulyakov met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Uzbekistan Johanna Maria Ögren.
The parties considered prospects for developing expert cooperation between Uzbekistan and Finland and for enhancing the exchange of experience between the two countries’ think tanks.
Eldor Tulyakov noted that the Center has monitored the implementation of strategic reforms in Uzbekistan since 2017. Key areas of activity include studying public opinion in the regions, analyzing current issues raised by the population, developing proposals and initiatives to improve the effectiveness of reforms. He noted that the focus is on establishing effective dialogue among government agencies, civil society, and national and foreign experts, as well as on studying international best practices and applying them in Uzbekistan’s reform process.
The Ambassador highly valued the pace of reforms implemented in Uzbekistan and noted the clear results of economic transformation. Given the rapid changes taking place in the world, she stressed the importance of effective dialogue between the state and society, taking into account citizens’ opinions and the broad involvement of the public in the reform process.
The Ambassador highly valued the Center’s role in facilitating dialogue among the state, society, the expert community, the media, and international partners.
The parties exchanged views on the possibilities of studying Finland’s experience in public administration, local representative authorities, digitalization, water resources management, ecology, and climate change.
It was noted that the foreign experience gained during the Uzbekistan delegation’s visits to several developed countries, including Finland, has practical importance in developing proposals to improve local authorities’ activities.
Johanna Maria Ögren expressed her willingness to cooperate with the Center in specific areas and to assist in establishing direct contacts with relevant organizations, experts, and think tanks in Finland. The possibility of organizing joint meetings and events during upcoming visits to Uzbekistan by representatives of Finnish political and expert circles was also discussed.
Abdulaziz Rustamov, UzA
