Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan

For reference: This report is independently compiled by SDSN and annually evaluates the progress of countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The network was founded by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University professor and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on SDGs.

In 2025, Uzbekistan rose by 19 positions compared to 2024 and was recognized as the fastest-growing country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe since 2015.

On June 24 of this year, the international online presentation of the report was held, attended by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Umid Abidkhadjaev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Kevin Chika Urama, Vice President of the African Development Bank, David Li, Professor at Tsinghua University, Eugénie Birch, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President of SDSN, and other leading international experts.

During the event, Deputy Minister Umid Abidkhadjaev provided detailed information on the reforms implemented in Uzbekistan to achieve the SDGs and the national financial mechanisms in place. Discussions also covered the reform of the global financial system and expanding long-term and affordable financing opportunities for low- and middle-income countries.

In his speech, Professor Jeffrey Sachs emphasized:

“Achieving sustainable development primarily depends on strong political leadership. It is not enough to mobilize internal and external resources; ensuring their effective and efficient use is essential.”

In particular, Professor Sachs and Kevin Chika Urama, Vice President of the African Development Bank, highly appreciated the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan to achieve the SDGs, highlighting the strength of political will and firm leadership as key factors of success. International experts also paid special attention to the notable results Uzbekistan has achieved in poverty reduction.

Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan’s institutional and structural reforms — including poverty reduction, food security, social protection, the creation of decent jobs, improvement of healthcare and education quality, promotion of gender equality, development of the digital and green economy, and enhancement of transparency in statistics — have become the primary drivers of Uzbekistan’s significant rise in the global sustainable development index and have been widely recognized at the international level.

For more information: View the report

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Ministry of Economy and Finance