Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 9 to 10 September 2024, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with European insurance organizations Swiss Re and Europe Re, and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, conducted a training session titled “Agricultural Insurance in Uzbekistan.”

The training, held with the participation of an international expert, focused on enhancing the skills of insurance sector professionals.

Uzbekistan faces increased risks in agriculture due to its sharply continental climate and global climate changes. These risks threaten sustainable development, farmer welfare, and the country’s food security.

Agricultural insurance is a key tool for managing these risks. Therefore, UNDP, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the insurance organizations Swiss Re and Europe Re organized this training to improve the qualifications of industry participants in Uzbekistan, including government agencies and insurance companies.

The training took place in Tashkent and was attended by more than 30 specialists from the National Agency for Prospective Projects, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Association of Professional Insurance Market Participants, the Hydrometeorological Service Center, insurance companies of Uzbekistan, and other governmental and private entities.

International expert Olena Sosenka, with over 20 years of experience in agricultural insurance, provided instruction on key aspects of agricultural insurance development, risk management, insurance products, and opportunities for insurance companies and the state.

Participants gave positive feedback on the training, highlighting the relevance of the topics and the usefulness of the knowledge acquired, which was based on international practice and presented interactively.

Ilkhom Jurayev, Head of the Financing and Subsidization Department at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasized that agricultural risks pose a serious threat to crops and the country’s economy. He noted that developing agricultural insurance is crucial for managing these risks and improving the sector’s state.

Sobir Khasanov, Head of the Agricultural Insurance Department at "Uzagrosugurta," added that agricultural insurance is an important area for Uzbekistan’s economic development and climate risk management.

The training was part of the global UNDP project “Implementation of Risk Insurance and Financing Mechanisms in Uzbekistan,” funded by the German government. This project aims to support the development of Uzbekistan’s insurance market, including integrating insurance policies into economic development, advancing inclusive insurance, financing risks from natural disasters, and attracting investment in the insurance industry. The training is also conducted under the project “Development of Agricultural Insurance in Uzbekistan,” implemented by Swiss Re and Europe Re.