A major regional environmental initiative is taking shape as Uzbekistan proposes the creation of a “Green Belt of Central Asia” aimed at expanding ecological cooperation and tackling climate challenges across the region.

The proposal was presented by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the opening ceremony of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in Samarkand, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Under the initiative, Uzbekistan aims to raise its national greenery coverage to 30% by 2030 while encouraging joint climate projects with neighboring countries and international partners. The plan aligns with the ADB’s climate action strategy, which directs a significant share of its financing toward environmental projects.

Beyond environmental goals, Uzbekistan also proposed a regional program under ADB leadership to expand the use of artificial intelligence in developing economies. Key areas include education, healthcare, water management, ecology, and food security, with a focus on accessible open-source AI models.

The country has also joined ADB’s “Digital Silk Road for Asia” initiative and proposed establishing a regional coordination center in Tashkent.

Mirziyoyev highlighted Uzbekistan’s growing role in global critical minerals markets, noting more than 70 joint projects worth $1.6 billion with companies from the United States, China, and Türkiye. The country is developing resources such as copper, tungsten, molybdenum, magnesium, graphite, vanadium, and titanium, alongside new research centers and a metals technology park.

He stressed that global demand for critical minerals is expected to rise sharply, potentially increasing sixfold by 2040, positioning Uzbekistan as a key emerging supplier.

Looking ahead, Uzbekistan aims to transform its economy into a technology- and innovation-driven model, targeting GDP growth to over $240 billion by 2030. The country has already attracted around $150 billion in foreign investment in recent years and significantly expanded its energy output through large-scale infrastructure projects.

The president said that Uzbekistan has become one of the top five countries globally in progress toward sustainable development goals over the past decade, and continues its ambition to eliminate poverty and reach upper-middle-income status in the coming years.