In recent years, Uzbekistan has become an increasingly important cultural and economic crossroads in Central Asia, attracting diplomats, international organizations, and businesses from around the world. As the country opens its doors to greater international engagement, the need for high-quality Uzbek language education has never been more pressing. Meeting this need is Methodica, a pioneering […]
Uzbekistan’s tourism targets are well known: President Mirziyyev has repeatedly stated that he aims to attract 15 million international arrivals a year by 2030, which represents a more than 100% increase from 2023. More valuable metrics for the economy, however, are the financial contribution that travel and tourism (T&T) make to gross domestic product (GDP); […]
SILKROADLAND: MIXING ADVENTURE AND KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE “EDUTAINMENT” The modern world, despite certain economic and political tensions, supports the idea of developing intercultural relations and preserving global cultural heritage. One of the most effective, accessible, exciting and, at the same time, investment-attractive formats of such work is the theme park. For example, Disneyland – one […]
The Professional School of Business Coaches of the Centre for Training and Consulting and the Eurasian Creative Guild have been working on this event for several years. While we were gaining professionalism and conducting scientific research in the field of andragogy, the Guild was gaining experience in organising large-scale international events. At the first championship […]
JIZZAKH REGION, A FUTURE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WESTERN COMPANIES AND INVESTORS? The Jizzakh Region is helping to drive Uzbekistan’s economic growth. With its strategic location and dynamic business environment, the region could become a gateway to Uzbekistan for foreign business, and it already boasts some interesting contributions from Western companies in this region. With […]
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MUSIC IN JIZZAKH Folk music was considered risqué by some due to political reasons for decades, but like the Jazz style of America that was also considered equally as taboo, it has become a defining musical style of Uzbekistan. In terms of vocal styles, the main folk style is known as […]
EXPLORING THE CASTLES OF JIZZAKH Uzbekistan, particularly the Jizzakh Region, has some beautiful and varied countryside. You might be surprised to hear that it also has some impressive castles and fortresses. In Europe we think our history is full of castles, princesses and knights, especially during the middle ages. It is little known that many […]
TURNING A DEAD DESERT INTO A FLOURISHING OASIS The period of the Russian Empire’s domination of Central Asia in the 1960s and 1970s gave impetus, among other things, to the expansion of irrigation construction and the irrigation of previously undeveloped areas. This was a consequence of the establishment of peaceful life and the cessation of […]
THE POWER OF POETRY: RASHIDOV’S ETERNAL KASHMIR SONG The romantic novella The Song of Kashmir (1956) reflects the Indian people’s struggle for liberation. Judging by its tone, this summary of Rashidov’s works and the reference in it to The Song of Kashmir date from Soviet times, and at first glance seem far removed from the […]
AMAZING JIZZAKH SAMSA It is no exaggeration to say that the Uzbek samsa (also somsa) is now known all over the world. Uzbek restaurants are growing in popularity and can be found in many countries of the world. And samsa has always been an integral part of Uzbekistan’s traditional gastronomic wealth, especially samsa with meat […]
Historic Debut: Uzbekistan Hosts Inaugural World Coaching Championship During Eurasian Creative Week From 22 to 29 June, Uzbekistan hosted the first international World Coaching Championship, as part of the 8th international festival Eurasian Creative Week. For the first time, the festival events took place in three cities of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Khiva and Nukus. The festival […]
TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REGION: KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The Central Asian region, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is famous for its picturesque landscapes, diverse cultures and rich history. In recent years, the region has emerged as a promising destination for international travellers seeking unique experiences in remote locations. […]
NEW MODEL OF TOURISM FOR THE NEW UZBEKISTAN Uzbekistan is the only country in Central Asia that borders every country in the region. Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world that does not even have neighbours with access to the sea (the other being Liechtenstein). The oldest cities in Uzbekistan are over […]
GASTRO TOURISM: A NEW ADVANTAGE FOR CENTRAL ASIA Central Asia has a culinary legacy that is mind boggling. Like the region’s history it spans millennia and has undergone a vast amount of change from era to era. It is both fascinating and delicious. Being positioned along the Silk Road allowed for this as trade brought […]
FUND HONOURS SHARAF RASHIDOV’S LIFE On March 27, 2017, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the outstanding Uzbek statesman, writer and poet Sharaf Rashidov, and on January 13, 2022, he signed a decree on naming Samarkand State University after Sharaf Rashidov. Sharaf Rashidov International Public Fund […]
THE CONTEMPORARY ART OF BAHKSHI A NEW SOUND OF THE GOLDENHERITAGE OF UZBEKISTAN Uzbekistan is a country wrestling with its past and its future. Ancient historical cities where heroes such as Alexander the Great and Tamerlane walked the same smooth worn pavements as today’s tourists, need preserving, yet the country is also caught up in […]
The city of Jizzakh has become a symbol for the prestigious London Film Festival. On May 30th, 2023, at the fifth ECG Film Festival in London there was an award ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Maria Akhmedjanova – Shevel – an outstanding architect and creative artist of Uzbekistan. Maria Akhmedjanova – Shevel – […]
Constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan: a course to continue profound democratic reforms A national referendum on the law on the new Constitution will beheld in Uzbekistan on 30 April 2023. The updated Basic Law is intendedto consolidate the country’s strategic course for further reform of societyand the state, which has had a positive impact on its […]
Uzbekistan’s economy is going from strength to strength. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects the country’s GDP to show 6.5% growth in 2023 – higher than the 4.9% forecast for the overall Central Asia region. One of the key actors that will support this growth is a new focus by president Shavkat […]
31 YEARS YOUNG UZBEKISTAN: SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS FOR FURTHER PROSPERITY On september 1, 2022 Uzbekistan celebrated the 31st Anniversary of its Independence. From the very beginning the nation has set an ambitious goal – to become a developed, sustainable, democratic state. In a relatively short period, profound structural and institutional transformations were carried out that laid […]
Sharaf Rashidov – Man and Politician Celebrating the 105th anniversary of his birth In the autumn of 2022 the 105th anniversary of the birth of Sharaf Rashidovich Rashidov will be celebrated. A famous statesman of Uzbekistan and the Soviet Union, he made a huge personal contribution to the economic and social development of Uzbekistan between […]
NEW UZBEKISTAN SEEKS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS On May 20, 2022 the Constitutional Commission was established to develop proposals for constitutional amendments as part of a “New Uzbekistan” image refit. This Constitutional Commission is comprised of deputies and senators from all regions, representatives from various social strata, civil society institutions, leading lawyers, political scientists, and other […]
Revival of the Tashkent Film Festival In September 2021 Marat Akhmedjanov invited myself and two film related companions to represent the UK at the Tashkent Film Festival in Uzbekistan, a festival returning after a 24 year absence. Like a moth to a flame I was drawn to the event, as were my fellow travellers Oliver […]
After broad public discussions, Uzbekistan has adopted its five-year Development Strategy for 2022-2026. It consists of seven priority directions and one hundred goals Uzbekistan is willing to achieve within five years. This strategic document will serve Uzbekistan as a baseline for further reforms in all spheres. The Strategy foresees the implementation of various measures that […]
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how interconnected human health is with the environment, as well as with economic and social progress. We can no longer ignore the signals that nature itself sends us. Unfortunately, climate change is on the rise. In Central Asia, the average annual temperature over the past 30 years has increased by […]
OR 12 GW OF RENEWABLE POWER CAPACITY IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS Can it be possible for a country to go from zero to climate hero or 12 GW of solar and wind power in less than 10 years and at a very low cost? This is a daunting task for any country. But Uzbekistan, […]
From the beginning of the written history of humankind, Central Asia was at the crossroads of civilisations, cultures and development. Archaeological discoveries show that the first known cities and states were present here for more than five thousand years. Magnificent monuments, temples and government buildings, with the sophisticated structures, prove that this land was full […]
While relations go back over six hundred years, with an exchange of letters between King Henry IV of England and Amir Temur, the British Council has been supporting systemic education and cultural relations with the UK for the last quarter of a century, since the signing of formal bilateral agreement with Government of Uzbekistan in […]
The British Museum has announced that it is working closely with colleagues in the Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) under the Ministry of Culture, and the staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London. On 30th September 2020 the Museum signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ACDF and agreed to […]
International art lovers attending the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale were in for a treat. For the very first time in the history of this prestigious festival, Uzbekistan had a national pavilion, situated within the Arsenale. Titled “Mahalla: Urban Rural Living”, this 1:1 scale model of a house in a traditional Uzbek mahalla (neighbourhood) was curated […]
“I really want our society to be inclusive. I think we should start with culture because music and arts do not require interpretation. If we make culture inclusive and accessible, everything else will go by itself, God willing,” said Mirsaid Mukhotorov, a blind student of international law at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. […]
Since its creation in 1753, the British Library – formerly the Library of the British Museum – has amassed more than 170 million collection items. A small portion of these are in Uzbek or Chagatai, or related to the territory of the contemporary Republic of Uzbekistan. Despite their small number, the 50-odd Turkic manuscripts from […]
Heading into the autumn of 2021, the revival of international tourism still looks some way off. But as flights resume, travel restrictions are lifted, and tourists regain confidence, we will start to see the sector’s recovery. Uzbekistan has been using this downtime to build upon the foundations it laid pre-COVID and prepare to realise its […]
Prior to 2020, Uzbekistan was one of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world, with the surge in visitors arriving beyond even the highest expectations of those within the Central Asia tourism scene. It was an exciting time to be creating product and leading sales of Uzbekistan holidays for a company organising tours for […]
250km/h, speed of Uzbekistan’s finest train, the Afrosiyob The early morning sun shone definitively through the dust-covered, weathered window pane, as our train trundled through a landscape of hillside foliage. We were on a journey from Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent towards the great Silk Road city of Kokand, now the perfect introduction to the Fergana Valley […]
The catastrophic breach of the dam earlier this year provides the perfect opportunity for the Uzbek government to learn from and improve its energy policy towards a sustainable future that goes hand in hand with economic reforms in the country. By Iain Watt, IGI Solutions, regional expert in water security Early in the morning of […]
INTERVIEW Zulkhumar Khamdamovna from 1994 till 2015 she worked as a teacher, from 2015 she began writing poetry and essays. The theme of her work is the knowledge of the truth of life. For 5 years (2015-2020) she wrote more than 70,000 lines of poetry, more than 2,000 sheets of essays. Books are her […]
In the modern world the idea of “how a wedding should look like” has changed and yet all we want for this day is for it to be perfect and remarkable. It does not matter what your nationality is or where you are from because in any county a bride and groom are extremely excited […]
Arrest, prison, GULag, suffering, and death – all are images that come to mind when we think of the Stalin era Great Purges of the 1930s. Solzhenitsyn’s GULag Archipelago and the memoirs of survivors document this period of a government’s war against its own people in heart-wrenching detail. It was a war fought so successfully […]
WWW.OCAMAGAZINE.COM OCA#35 SUMMER 2020 Interview with Michael Schena recorded by Saniya Seilkhanova Growing up in Plymouth, Massachusetts and later studying at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he pursued a degree in International Affairs, Michael Schena decided to pursue a career that would allow him travel and work. A regular visitor to […]
Last Sunday, Solidarity with Uzbekistan, a digital fundraising campaign benefited from yet another webinar to help raise money for the vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 lockdown in the country. An interesting lecture about the Savitsky Museum given by its former director Marinika Babanazarova was fully booked. Held at 3pm in London, the Zoom-session attracted over […]
Stories and reminders of Uzbekistan’s great scientists and scholars of the past can be found everywhere in the country. Travellers on the magnificent Tashkent subway, when stopping at the Kosmonavtlar station, can walk the length of the platform and view a gallery of those who built, influenced and pioneered the Soviet space program. In chronological […]
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This year marks the 100th anniversary since birth of Sharaf R. Rashidov, the first secretary of the Uzbek communist party (in office from 1959 until 1983). Rashidov was born on November the 6th 1917, the day before the Bolsheviks under Lenin seized power in Russia. His birthday seems symbolical as he would become the highest […]
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