On 8 October this year, a practical seminar on the “National Spatial Vision for Uzbekistan to 2050 (NSVP)” was held at the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The event was organized as part of cooperation between the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship and the World Bank in Uzbekistan.

The speaker was Dr. Mohamed Nada, a World Bank expert with more than 25 years of experience in governance, socio-economic research, and institutional capacity development. He previously led the Urban Policy, Governance and Legislation Program at UN-Habitat. He also headed the Governance and Civic Participation Program at CARE International.

The World Bank is developing the Vision with support from the Government of Uzbekistan. It provides long-term directions for the country’s spatial development. The document examines how the location and growth of cities, economic activity, infrastructure, and services can contribute to a more productive, connected, inclusive, and resilient economy.

The presentation covered the Vision's objectives, its analytical approach, and initial findings. These included the role of the urban system and the interaction between urban and rural areas, as well as the regions' potential in industry, tourism, and agriculture. Particular attention was given to transport accessibility, managing urban growth, and the use of land, water, and energy, as well as climate resilience. The speaker also explained how the national vision is linked to regional strategies and local plans. He said the Vision's recommendations will be implemented through sectoral policies, capital investment planning, and stronger coordination across levels of government.

The discussion brought together experts and researchers working on the country’s regional policy. Strategic and macroeconomic perspectives were presented by leading think tanks, including the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies, the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, and the International Institute of Central Asia. Specialized research institutes provided expertise on the labor market, poverty, productivity, statistics, and fiscal policy. The academic community was represented by the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek and Tashkent State University of Economics.

During the discussion, participants considered emerging policy directions and their implications for Uzbekistan’s development priorities.