Harnessing Uzbekistan’s Potential of Urbanization

World Bank. 2016. Uzbekistan Moves Towards Proactive Approach to Disaster Risk Management. 14 December.
61 
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). Uzbekistan.

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State of the Urban Sector 
23
On account of climate change, heat waves and increased frequency of the consecutive number of days above 
39°C are expected to occur throughout the country.
62
Increased temperatures would also affect spring frosts, 
further worsening the adverse impacts on the agriculture sector. WHO identifies climate-sensitive diseases 
such as waterborne acute intestinal diseases, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that have increased 
risk during climatic events like droughts and heat waves (footnote 48). Extreme heat hazard is classified 
as high in Uzbekistan, based on modeled heat information currently available via the ThinkHazard tool.
63
The 
frequency of extremely hot days (40°C or above) has risen, while recurrence of low temperatures has diminished 
(footnote 59). In Tashkent, the highest air temperature in July 2018 was 43°C. In 2019, temperatures ranged 
between 37°C and 40°C, while in the south and the desert zone, temperatures were up to 42°C (footnote 59). 
62 
World Bank. Uzbekistan.
63 
KUN.UZ. 2019. Uzbekistan Heatwave Temperatures to Reach 42°C. 8 July.

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II. Government Policies and Programs
Urban Development Policies
Urbanization and the National Development Strategy
In February 2017, barely 2 months into office, the new President signed the Decree “on the strategy for the further 
development of the Republic of Uzbekistan” with a 5-year time horizon to 2021. This foundational document 
indicated the five priority areas of the reform process: (i) improving state and social construction; (ii) ensuring 
the rule of law and further reforming the judicial system; (iii) development and liberalization of the economy; 
(iv) development of the social sphere; and (v) ensuring security, inter-ethnic harmony, and religious tolerance, 
pursuing a balanced, mutually beneficial, and constructive foreign policy. It was a broad and ambitious statement 
of intents of a new direction for the country, which the new government embarked on implementing. 
The Action Strategy attached to the Decree further articulates the priority areas, including the “integrated and 
balanced socioeconomic development of regions, districts and cities, the optimal and efficient use of their 
potential.” The government plans to achieve this goal through the following:
• 
Ensure the integrated and efficient use of natural, mineral and raw materials, industrial, agricultural, 
tourism and labor potential of each region to accelerate socioeconomic development and increase the 
level of employment and incomes of the population.
• 
Reduce the gap in socioeconomic development among the regions by modernizing and diversifying the 
economy of the territories, accelerating the development of relatively lagging regions and cities, and 
increasing their industrial and export potential.
• 
Actively develop small cities and urban-type settlements by creating new industrial enterprises and 
service centers and small industrial zones, and attracting funds from large business associations, bank 
loans, and private foreign investments.
• 
Provide subsidies and support to districts and cities, in view of the expansion of the revenue base of local 
budgets due to the rapid development of industries and services.
• 
Further develop and modernize the production, engineering, communication and social infrastructure 
of the territories to create favorable conditions for industrial and production facilities, foster the broad 
development of private enterprise, and improve the living conditions of the population.
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64 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Legislation. 2019. Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 7 February 2017 No. UP-4947