BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. The memorandum of
understanding signed between Uzbekistan and the OECD opens new
opportunities for expanding cooperation across a wide range of
reform areas, William Tompson, Head of the Eurasia Division at the
OECD Directorate for Global Relations and Co-operation told
Trend, commenting on
the document signed in February 2025.
According to him, the accord establishes a structure for
bolstering reforms in areas such as public governance and
anti-corruption, environmental stewardship, tax and public finance
oversight, employment, education and skill enhancement, along with
competitiveness, investment environment, trade and transport
linkages, privatization, SME growth, and the prudent advancement of
essential minerals.
“The existence of the MOU will make it far easier to organize
the modalities of cooperation. We are currently in discussions with
the authorities in Tashkent to define concrete projects to be
launched under the memorandum and the resources required to support
them,” Tompson said.
He pointed out that rolling out the document will take a
step-by-step approach, given that the memorandum spans a wide array
of areas.
“It would be impossible to start work simultaneously in all 19
areas identified in the MOU, so the first step will be to conduct a
baseline assessment and prepare a roadmap defining the sequence of
further actions,” he said.
According to Tompson, the memorandum provides for several
formats of cooperation, including analytical studies and national
policy reviews, exchange of statistical data and information, joint
meetings, seminars and workshops, as well as direct interaction
between experts and government officials through missions and
secondments.
He added that the agreement also provides for expanding
Uzbekistan’s participation in OECD bodies and projects, gradual
alignment with OECD standards, and technical assistance aimed at
strengthening institutional capacity.
“The MOU opens up substantial new opportunities for cooperation
between the OECD and Uzbekistan and will allow us to move to more
structured and practical engagement,” Tompson said.
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