Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Justice with the participation of representatives of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agency for State Assets Management, the Cadastral Agency, and experts from the World Bank to discuss ways to improve the efficient use of agricultural land plots and the future prospects of land reforms in this area.

During the meeting, participants comprehensively discussed the efficient use of agricultural land, the introduction of modern land resource management mechanisms, and measures to ensure the consistency and continuity of ongoing reforms in the sector.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan has undertaken broad and systematic reforms of land relations in recent years. Significant steps have been taken to strengthen land rights and transform land into a genuine market asset, reinforce legal guarantees, and introduce market-based principles into land allocation and land use processes.

World Bank experts noted that Uzbekistan's land reform has entered a new stage and that the necessary legal and institutional foundations are being established to further develop rights to agricultural land.
The international experts also shared a number of recommendations. Particular attention was given to the successful experiences of Eastern European countries that achieved notable results through the privatization of agricultural land in the 1990s, as well as Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Türkiye, where private land ownership has long been established and has played a key role in regulating land relations and developing land markets.

Representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies also actively participated in the discussions, sharing their views and proposals while exchanging opinions on the legal, economic, and social aspects of further developing land rights.

The participants emphasized that, at the next stage of land reform, administrative mechanisms whereby the state acts as a lessor may not always deliver the expected results. Instead, subsidy mechanisms aimed at supporting the production of priority agricultural products are likely to be more effective tools for regulating the agricultural and food sectors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants agreed on the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the issue, including an in-depth analysis of opportunities to implement reforms that will ensure the efficient and sustainable use of land resources under Uzbekistan's specific conditions.

The parties also agreed to continue their effective cooperation with the World Bank and jointly develop a draft regulatory legal act, taking into account international best practices and the recommendations of foreign experts.