Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukakhimov, and the Director-General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi, signed a memorandum of cooperation. The ceremony took place during the Sustainable Development Week in Abu Dhabi.

The five-year memorandum (with automatic renewal for three years) includes:

• Exchange of experience, information, and technologies in the fields of ecology, environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, and climate change adaptation;
• Joint development and implementation of projects for sustainable agriculture and the application of climate-resilient practices in Uzbekistan;
• Organization of training events on sustainable agriculture and environmental protection;
• Support for scientific research and partnerships between ICBA and research organizations in Uzbekistan;
• Development of programs to empower women in agriculture and the environmental sector.

Additionally, the parties agreed to accelerate the opening of an ICBA representative office in Uzbekistan.

Earlier, Aziz Abdukakhimov and Dr. Tarifa Al Zaabi discussed the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, regarding the establishment of a Regional Gene Bank. An agreement was reached to strengthen cooperation in 2025, which has been declared in Uzbekistan as the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy," including joint research projects and regular consultations.