OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan facilitates the promotion of open data through youth engagement

On 2 April 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) held a seminar on the practical relevance and prospects for developing the open data systemin Uzbekistan. The PCUz organized the event in collaboration with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics (UZSTAT) and the Technological Park of Software Products and Information Technologies (IT-Park Uzbekistan).

Over 90 participants, including 16 women, representing various agencies and ministries, took part in the event. They discussed further developing the open data ecosystem in Uzbekistan. The event also included an award ceremony for the winners of the “Open Data Challenge 2020” hackathon. Young persons embraced the opportunity to present their projects and highlighted the importance of open data for their projects.

Akrom Sultanov, Head of UZSTAT’s Open Data Monitoring Department, spoke about planned measures of the government of Uzbekistan to improve the open data sector. “This year, and in the upcoming years, considerable efforts will be put into developing the open data sector based on Open By Default, Timely and Comprehensive, Accessible and Usable, Comparable and Interoperable, For Improved Governance & Citizen Engagement, For Inclusive Development and Innovation principles of the international Open Data Charter”, he said.

Voices of youth enriched the discussions at the event. “I believe that the development of an open database in Uzbekistan will bring many benefits to many areas. After all, data can tell us a lot of information that will be used to make the right decisions,” said Sevara Akhbaeva, one of the winners of the hackathon. “Availability of big data makes it possible for programmers to release their products,” said Bobur Abomuslimov, another hackathon winner.