In a major interview with the Alter Ego media project, Presidential Administration Chief Saida Mirziyoyeva stressed that reforms have only recently “started.” In her view, claims that the changes have stalled or “reached a plateau” are far from the truth—the process is long-term and not yet complete. This was reported by upl.uzreports.
Assessing interim results, Mirziyoyeva said positive shifts in the business environment are already being felt in practice. However, the picture remains uneven: there are many problems across regions, and there are also objective constraints the state faces on the ground.
Among the main obstacles, geographic landlockedness was cited—reaching the ocean requires crossing the territory of at least two countries. A shortage of financial resources and serious infrastructure wear were also noted as factors affecting the pace of reforms.
It was noted that a significant share of Uzbekistan’s engineering and social networks were built in the 1950s–1970s. Since upgrading Soviet-era systems requires massive investment, the government is opting to implement infrastructure projects step by step.
Five key areas have been clearly defined in the work of the Presidential Administration. Water issues top the list: Mirziyoyeva described water resources as a life-or-death challenge that could become the most acute in the near future.
Other priorities include education, healthcare, support for entrepreneurship, and reform of the judicial and legal system. Changes in the judiciary, she said, serve as a foundation that ensures transparency and justice in other areas as well.
The conversation also placed special emphasis on management style and oversight of task execution. Mirziyoyeva said her role in the Administration is not to create a “nice picture for reporting,” but to deliver real results, and she voiced a tough stance against distorting information at the local level.
According to her, an internal audit system and alternative information channels allow leadership to see the situation objectively. Therefore, attempts to provide false information were described as ineffective.
The practice of “manual control”—direct intervention by senior officials to resolve local problems—was assessed as typical of a transition period. Each such case is analyzed by the team not as an isolated incident, but as an opportunity to identify a systemic failure and adjust the legal and regulatory framework to prevent recurrence.
Mirziyoyeva also reminded that different areas are closely interconnected—from gender equality to the effectiveness of court protection for business—this entire chain functions as one system.
In closing, she also spoke about her personal motivation, noting that her interest in international diplomacy has lasted for many years. In her view, building connections is one of the most important skills, and the core principle of governance is proactivity: every problem can become a growth point to strengthen the system.
It was also recalled that Uzbekistan is one of only two “double-landlocked” countries in the world (along with Liechtenstein), meaning it must cross at least two countries to reach the ocean. This increases export-import costs, so developing logistics and transport routes is seen as one of the decisive factors for the success of reforms.
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