President of Uzbekistan proposes international initiatives on sustainable urban development

On May 18, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the Leaders’ Summit held as part of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Baku.

The event was also attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme Anacláudia Rossbach, as well as heads of other foreign states and governments, international organizations, and financial institutions.

At the forum, participants discussed sustainable urban development, expanding access to affordable housing, improving the quality of the urban environment, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing housing finance mechanisms.

In his address, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the Forum’s theme, “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities”, is becoming increasingly relevant amid rapid urbanization. According to various estimates, nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by the middle of the twenty-first century.

The Leader of Uzbekistan noted that accelerating urbanization is accompanied by growing social challenges. Today, around 3 billion people worldwide lack adequate housing, more than 1 billion live in informal settlements and slums, while over 300 million people remain completely without housing. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, and economic crises are placing additional pressure on cities, contributing to new waves of global migration.

“In short, urbanization is becoming a critical factor directly affecting global stability and security,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

The President emphasized that sustainable urban development is one of the strategic priorities of New Uzbekistan. Over the next fifteen years, the country’s population is expected to grow from 38 million to 50 million, while the urbanization rate is projected to increase from 51 to 65 percent.

In this regard, the country is implementing a large-scale program for the development of urban infrastructure and housing construction. Over the past 10 years, the volume of annual housing construction has increased tenfold. In 2025, 238,000 housing units were built, and by 2030 this figure is expected to increase by another one and a half times. Around $2 billion is allocated annually from the state budget to affordable housing programs.

To address the issue of informal housing, a separate law was adopted in 2024, under which documents for nearly 100,000 homes have already been formalized. The country is also implementing renovation programs for outdated housing designed to increase the share of renewed housing stock from 15 to 60 percent. A National Committee for Urbanization has been established to coordinate these efforts.

Particular attention is being paid to the environmental sustainability of cities. As part of the “Yashil Makon” and “Clean Air” programs, Uzbekistan aims to increase urban green coverage to 30 percent by 2030.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also highlighted the important role of the mahalla institution in landscaping and improving the quality of life of the population.

The “New Tashkent” megaproject was separately presented, which is being implemented based on the modern principles of a “green,” “smart,” “safe,” and “15-minute” city. At the first stage, the implementation of investment projects with a total value of more than $25 billion has already begun.

“Most importantly, similar projects are being implemented not only in the capital, but also across all regions of the country as part of the ‘New Uzbekistan’ residential area initiative. To date, 61 such residential areas have been built, and this number is expected to reach 100 by 2030,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

During his address, the President of Uzbekistan also put forward a number of international initiatives.

In particular, the Head of State called for the broader introduction of the principles of “balanced urbanization” to ensure the harmonious development of small and medium-sized cities.

The President of Uzbekistan also initiated the establishment of the international “Smart and Safe Cities Alliance,” which will serve as a platform for the exchange of technologies, standards, and best practices in the digital transformation of urban governance.

To expand access to quality housing for young people and socially vulnerable groups, it was proposed to hold an international forum in Samarkand in 2027 dedicated to new approaches for attracting finance and investment in housing construction.

Another initiative was the proposal to establish a UN-Habitat “Green City” international award aimed at promoting the development of environmentally sustainable cities.

The President of Uzbekistan also proposed holding the fifteenth session of the World Urban Forum in New Tashkent in 2030 under the theme “The Role of Local Communities in the Sustainable Development of Cities.”

The heads of other foreign delegations also addressed the summit.