On 9 December 2025, the European Union disbursed a EUR 7 million grant to the Government of Uzbekistan to support the continued implementation of the country’s Agricultural Development Strategy 2020–2030. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, during a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov. The meeting reviewed ongoing EU–Uzbekistan cooperation in the agriculture sector and reaffirmed the shared goal of advancing sustainable and inclusive development.
The EUR 7 million forms part of the EU’s broader EUR 20 million commitment to Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector, with EUR 6 million previously disbursed in 2023. The remaining EUR 7 million is expected to be released in 2026, contingent on satisfactory progress in implementing agricultural reforms and achieving jointly agreed targets. The EU remains one of the few development partners providing direct grant support to Uzbekistan.
Ambassador Klaar acknowledged the significant progress made by Uzbekistan in implementing its agricultural reform agenda, noting improvements in domestic production and exports, irrigation efficiency, and the overall agribusiness environment. He highlighted that the next key challenges include strengthening economic land-use rights and food safety governance, essential for attracting investment, ensuring sustainability, and enhancing export competitiveness, particularly as Uzbekistan works toward WTO accession.
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uzbekistan in completing the remaining agricultural sector reforms, emphasizing that strengthened cooperation will promote mutual prosperity, enhance trade opportunities, and deepen the EU–Uzbekistan partnership.
