TASHKENT, Thursday, January 15, 2026 (WNP): President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday chaired an expanded high-level meeting to review the performance of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad, calling for a renewed, results-oriented approach to diplomacy amid rapidly shifting global geopolitics and growing threats to state sovereignty.

Opening the session, President Mirziyoyev said the changing international environment required a critical reassessment of foreign policy practices and a transition to a modernized framework for organizing the work of diplomats overseas. He stressed that diplomacy must increasingly deliver tangible economic, security, and social outcomes.

Highlighting 2025 as a landmark year for Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, the President noted that high-level visits were conducted to 26 countries, while for the first time in recent history, several world leaders paid official visits to Uzbekistan. Multilateral engagement, particularly under the “Central Asia Plus” formats, gained momentum, while strategic partnerships expanded to 19 countries. Uzbekistan has also established allied relations with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.

“As a result of an open, pragmatic, thoughtful, and proactive foreign policy, Uzbekistan is steadily strengthening its position as one of the global centers of peace and diplomacy,” President Mirziyoyev said.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has opened 16 new embassies and consulates, raising the total number of diplomatic missions abroad to 60, with diplomatic relations now established with 165 countries. Staffing levels and remuneration within the foreign service have also been increased to enhance effectiveness.

However, the President questioned whether all diplomatic missions were fully utilizing the opportunities available to them. He underlined a shift in expectations, defining ambassadors not only as political envoys but as economic and social catalysts.

“Today, an ambassador must attract investment and technology, open new export markets, develop transport and logistics corridors, boost tourism, facilitate legal labor migration, and above all, protect the rights of our citizens,” he said.

In this context, key performance indicators for ambassadors will include export revenues from host countries, growth in tourist arrivals, success in attracting foreign investment, and effectiveness in organizing legal labor migration.

The meeting placed strong emphasis on economic diplomacy. President Mirziyoyev revealed that agreements worth $160 billion were signed during bilateral and multilateral engagements in 2025. Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover exceeded $80 billion for the first time, exports reached $33.5 billion, and foreign investment surpassed $43 billion. Exports to 75 countries increased by nearly $4.5 billion.

Ambassadors were instructed to further expand exports to the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa, while implementing targeted projects in industry, agriculture, chemicals, textiles, greenhouse farming, and services. At the same time, concerns were raised about the limited global recognition of Uzbek products in certain markets.

Addressing competitiveness challenges, the President pointed to rising logistics costs and called for diversification of transit routes, optimization of supply chains, and new measures to reduce transportation expenses, particularly for European markets.

The agricultural sector was directed to prioritize water-saving technologies, modern farming methods, and innovative greenhouse solutions. Measures were also outlined to expand chemical exports, bring domestic manufacturing in line with international standards, and organize specialized international exhibitions.

Africa was identified as a promising new frontier for trade and investment, with instructions to develop a comprehensive roadmap for engagement involving relevant ministries and diplomatic missions.

To incentivize performance, President Mirziyoyev announced plans to introduce financial rewards for ambassadors who successfully bring investment and export projects to completion.

The meeting also flagged underutilized opportunities, particularly in securing international grants. The President said Uzbekistan could have attracted an additional $200–300 million in grants last year with better coordination. Given that global donors allocate nearly $200 billion annually in grant funding, a unified and systematic approach to grant engagement was ordered.

In education, ambassadors to key countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan, and Singapore—were tasked with facilitating partnerships between Uzbek universities and top-100 global institutions.

Protecting citizens abroad and expanding access to legal, high-paying overseas employment was identified as another priority. The President urged embassies to move away from “office diplomacy,” strengthen field engagement, and establish direct dialogue with Uzbek communities.

Tourism promotion, enhancement of Uzbekistan’s international image, cooperation with foreign media, and the development of targeted media projects were also highlighted as strategic priorities.

President Mirziyoyev further called for updating Uzbekistan’s Foreign Policy Concept to better reflect long-term national interests, internal reforms, and priorities in security, economic diplomacy, investment, climate, water management, and logistics.

To recognize diplomatic excellence, he proposed instituting the honorary title “Honored Diplomat of the Republic of Uzbekistan.”

Concluding the session, the President said: “The time has come for a new generation of diplomats—those who deliver concrete results and firmly defend Uzbekistan’s national interests on the global stage.”

Reports and proposals from Uzbek ambassadors serving abroad were also presented during the meeting.