The Uzbek cultural presentation was held on the first day of the Forum entitled “Tashkent: yesterday and today” a photo exhibition dedicated to the 2200th year anniversary of the Uzbek capital, complementing the concert program was an ensemble of national instruments and the world-renowned dance theatre “OFARIN”. The presentation drew significant attention from WEF participants who had the chance to sample traditional Uzbek cuisine and eastern sweets.

“NGOs and public movements are becoming more important with practical roles,” says Dr. Gulnara Karimova in her welcome speech. “At the last WEF in Jordan, I had an opportunity to see it for myself- I participated in the Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF) - SISF which has had great experience with Uzbek social projects by working closely with international NGOs on joint activities such as: microcredits for women and family businesses in rural areas, clean water projects and youth initiatives. Today I’m proud to introduce our cultural event through the Fund Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, which has international representation in Beijing, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Vienna and Geneva.”

Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation: The Fund Forum was established in February 2004 for the support of domestic science, culture, education and sports. It was founded for the purpose of renascence of strong spiritual potential and national traditions of Uzbekistan consolidation of intellectual resources of well-known representatives of science and culture supporting young talents, creative dynasties of the country, as well as delivering the complete information about unique and rich national historical heritage and diversity of modern culture and arts of Uzbekistan.

“Tashkent: yesterday and today” photo exhibition consists of Tashkent photographs and pictures made by contemporary photographers. This is a unique series of images that reflects gradual changes in Tashkent’s development since the beginning of the XX’th century. The exhibition was first introduced in December 2008 in Geneva and in June 2009 and Vienna. Later in cooperation with UNESCO a separate book containing more than 450 photographs made in 130 years by more than 100 photographers was published.