OMM Redaksiyası
Uzbekistan plans to introduce a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) system to protect historic cities and cultural heritage sites from the potential negative effects of construction and infrastructure projects.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed plans to preserve cultural heritage, develop museums and promote Uzbek culture internationally. The new system will apply to the cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva and Shakhrisabz, as well as examples of modernist architecture in Tashkent.
Tashkent’s national nomination, titled “Modernist Architecture of Tashkent. Modernity and Traditions of Central Asia,” has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The nomination covers 10 significant sites in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan has become the first country in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States to receive this status for 20th-century modernist architecture. It is the country’s first national addition to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 25 years. As part of the initiative, the “Sun” heliocomplex was also included as a World Heritage site and placed under protection.
The state program for 2026-2030 envisages preserving and promoting Tashkent’s modernist architecture. The new international status is expected to support research, cultural tourism and cooperation with architects and international experts.
In recent years, 466.4 billion soums, or about $39.6 million, has been allocated from the state budget for the restoration of cultural heritage sites. Work has been completed at 55 sites and is continuing at another 152. In addition, cadastral documents have been prepared for 8,183 cultural heritage sites.
The short-term leasing of monuments has attracted 4,187 businesses and generated 27.9 billion soums, or approximately $2.3 million, in revenue for the relevant fund.
Uzbekistan also plans to create a unified platform for the digital management of cultural heritage sites. The platform will include digital twins of monuments, a “Heritage Open Data” system and a center for monitoring the condition of cultural heritage.
The center will use data from “Internet of Things” (IoT) sensors, satellites, video analytics and artificial intelligence. The government aims to fully digitize all cultural heritage sites in the country by 2030.
A Visitor Management system will also be established to expand digital ticket sales and forecast tourist flows. If necessary, the number of visitors allowed into individual heritage sites may be limited.
Uzbekistan plans to establish a higher education institution specializing in restoration in Bukhara. The country also intends to expand the regional branches of the Institute of Archaeology and introduce licensing for restoration specialists.
