Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Within the framework of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmanov, met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Rabab Fatima.

The parties discussed the implementation of agreements reached at the international forum “Landlocked Developing Countries: Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals”, held on September 5–6, 2024, in Tashkent.

Particular attention was given to the initiative of creating an Agro-Innovation Hub under the Ministry of Agriculture to serve the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The hub’s primary goal is to establish a permanent dialogue platform and foster scientific cooperation in conditions of limited access to the sea.

Rabab Fatima noted that the concept of the Agro-Innovation Hub presented by Uzbekistan is currently under review by the FAO. She added that plans are underway to open two such centers — one in Africa and another in Uzbekistan. Issues of cooperation in this direction will be discussed in detail during the conference.

It was also reported that a Secretariat has already been set up under the Ministry to coordinate activities related to the theme “Landlocked Developing Countries: Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals.”

In conclusion, both sides agreed to accelerate the practical implementation of the Agro-Innovation Hub initiative.