Photo: dailynewshungary.com
The United Nations Public Service Forum has opened in Samarkand, marking the first time the event is being held in Central Asia. On this occasion, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the participants with a welcoming message published on the presidential website.
The head of state expressed his gratitude to UN Secretary-General António Guterres for supporting the initiative to host such a significant forum in Samarkand, a city at the crossroads of world civilizations.
Mirziyoyev emphasized that around 400 delegates are attending the event, representing prominent international organizations and governments from across the globe — a sign of the forum’s high standing.
Taking the opportunity, the president congratulated participants on United Nations Public Service Day, observed annually on June 23.
He also highlighted achievements under the “New Uzbekistan” reforms in governance, stating that the country is now firmly committed to the principle of “a state for the people” and is becoming an active participant in global public service transformation.
According to Mirziyoyev, ongoing reforms are turning the bureaucracy into an inclusive civil service. For example, the government has drafted a new Law on Civil Service in cooperation with international experts.
In addition, a mahalla (neighborhood-based) system of governance has been introduced, the mechanisms of targeted social assistance have been strengthened, and women now make up 35% of the public administration workforce — the highest proportion in Central Asia. More than 700 public services are now offered through online “one-stop-shop” platforms.
As a result of these developments, Uzbekistan has risen 24 places in the UN’s E-Government Development Index and 17 positions in the global AI readiness index over the past year.
A new talent development cluster has also been created to train skilled professionals for the public sector and to form a capable, modern civil service corps. Mirziyoyev called on international experts to support two proposed initiatives: the creation of a Global Knowledge Center on Digital Transformation in Public Service and an International School for Young Leaders in Uzbekistan.
“I am confident that these important initiatives and proposals will be fully reflected in the Samarkand Declaration, which will be adopted at the forum. This document will serve as a roadmap for our collective efforts to achieve inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered public service,” Mirziyoyev concluded.
The UN Public Service Forum is a global capacity-building event in the field of public administration. It serves as a platform to explore and discuss new challenges and trends, innovative solutions to pressing issues, and strategies and tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The forum brings together world leaders, policymakers, practitioners, innovators in governance, representatives of international and regional organizations, academics, NGOs, and the private sector.
The Samarkand forum runs from June 23 to 25. Its theme: “Five Years to 2030: Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future.”
