Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Nuclear Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzatom) and the Russian state corporation Rosatom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of radiation processing of products.

The memorandum was signed on June 20, 2025, in Moscow by Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, Director of Uzatom, and Artur Kolontaev, CEO of a Rosatom subsidiary responsible for the implementation of radiation processing projects.

Under the agreement, both parties aim to build a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership focused on developing and introducing ionizing treatment technologies in Uzbekistan. Specifically, the cooperation envisions the establishment of multifunctional centers specializing in radiation processing for medical and agricultural products.

Artur Kolontaev emphasized that Rosatom considers Uzbekistan’s ionizing processing market to be highly promising and is ready to jointly promote the broader application of radiation technologies with Uzatom. According to him, this will enhance food security, improve the healthcare system, and strengthen the country’s export potential.

In turn, Azim Akhmedkhadjaev stated that the signing of the memorandum reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to adopting advanced, innovative solutions in key sectors of the economy. He noted that the creation of ionizing treatment centers would be a critical step in the modernization of the country’s medical and agricultural sectors, ensuring high levels of sterilization, extended shelf life, and improved quality of domestic products. He added that the project’s implementation would also contribute to the country’s export growth and sustainable development.

The multifunctional radiation processing centers will be industrial facilities equipped with the necessary equipment and engineering infrastructure designed for treating medical devices, food, and agricultural products using ionizing radiation. This method provides effective sterilization with a guaranteed cleanliness level of up to 10⁻⁶, extends product shelf life, eliminates pests, reduces bacterial load, and removes contaminants without harming human health.

The effectiveness and safety of ionizing treatment are recognized by leading international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).