Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the occasion of International Women’s Day, ACWA Power Uzbekistan held the Women’s Power 2025 forum for the second consecutive year. The event embraced the theme "Past, Present, and Future," highlighting the strength of female leadership passed down through generations.

The forum was moderated by Daniel Yulin, a professor at Central Asian University and an international educator with experience in multiple countries. He recently had the honor of organizing TEDxCEU Women at Central Asian University, where outstanding and influential women shared their success stories on a global platform.

The event brought together leading women from Uzbekistan, including representatives of the Presidential Administration, the government, UN Women Uzbekistan, the Academy of Sciences, the FinTech sector, and entrepreneurship. The central theme of the forum focused on female leadership and its impact on strategic decision-making.

As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, the Women’s Power 2025 forum by ACWA Power provided a platform to discuss one of the most pressing issues of today: increasing women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as renewable energy.

The forum opened with an exhibition showcasing works by young female artists from various regions of Uzbekistan, reflecting the history of women through contemporary artistic expression. Among the featured artists were Aziza Avezova, Mastura Khamrayeva, Nodira Alakbarova, and Rushana Alimova.

The keynote speech was delivered by Nozimakhon Davletova, Head of the Department for Information-Analytical Support of Foreign Policy and Expansion of Foreign Economic Cooperation at the Presidential Administration. She emphasized the importance of promoting female leadership and mutual support among women.

"Today, March 8, is a day that began in 1910 as a struggle for women’s rights—the right to vote, work, receive an education, and be heard in society. A century ago, many girls were denied the opportunity to study. Healthcare was so underdeveloped that in some hospitals in central Europe, 60% of mothers did not survive childbirth."

Sharing her personal story, she added, "My grandmother, born in 1915, married at 16 and had 10 children. My mother married at 18, but she managed to get a higher education. She raised me with the conviction that I was born equal."

Davletova also highlighted Uzbekistan’s progress:

In 2024, over 30,000 young women received free education at the master’s level.

More than 40% of the deputies in the Legislative Chamber are women.

Uzbekistan became the first country in the region to pass a law against domestic violence.

John Zaidi, CEO of ACWA Power Uzbekistan, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to gender equality and female leadership: "This has already become a tradition. We held the forum last year, we are holding it this year, and we believe in the need to support women and advance their leadership. Energy is about balance and equality, yet, unfortunately, women remain underrepresented in our industry. ACWA Power is determined to change this."

Olga Pak, Head of Human Resources and Corporate Culture at ACWA Power Uzbekistan, added: "Currently, women make up 14% of our workforce, with 20% holding leadership positions. We are committed to increasing these figures by supporting women through education and career opportunities. At the Shirin Energy College (Syrdarya), which we fund, 26% of students are now female.

We have developed and implemented a Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) Prevention Policy, reaffirming our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment.

Zero tolerance for gender-based discrimination and harassment.

Partnership with UN Women to establish gender equality and workplace safety standards.

Through these initiatives, ACWA Power continues to support women, foster their career growth, and drive meaningful change in the energy sector."

Mayra Abdulgazina, CEO of ACWA Power Kazakhstan, shared her 25-year experience in the energy sector:
"We are engineers, decision-makers, mentors, pioneers, and changemakers. More and more women are leading projects, shaping policies, and driving the energy transition toward a sustainable future."

Seren Güven Güreş, Head of UN Women Uzbekistan:
"March 8 is not just a day for flowers and compliments. It is a day for equality. Today, more than 100 million girls worldwide are deprived of education due to a lack of schools and systemic barriers."

Shakhlo Turdikulova, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan:
"Women make up 48% of the Academy, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership. The advancement of women to key positions still faces resistance."

Suna Abdullayeva-Pak, former advisor to the Minister of Ecology:
"Women bring unique perspectives to sustainable development and climate policy. We need more female voices in these fields."

Nargiz Dustmatova, Chairperson of the FinTech Association of Uzbekistan:
"Women are becoming increasingly active in fintech and IT, but we still have work to do in increasing their presence in leadership roles."

Nadira Vakhidova, founder of Business Woman School:
"Many women start businesses on a small scale due to limited resources. However, women who are the sole breadwinners of their families often become the most determined and successful entrepreneurs."

A youth session, moderated by Surayo Turakulova (EUROUZ), featured discussions on stereotypes and the role of women in STEM and leadership.

Nigina Jumaeva, Senior Manager for Strategic Analysis at ACWA Power:
"The stereotype that women are not strong in mathematics and technical sciences is ingrained from childhood. We need to break this and inspire girls to pursue these professions. I am living proof of this—I was the first woman from Uzbekistan to graduate from Cambridge University in finance."

Nilufar Khamdamova, journalist and cultural heritage researcher, noted:
"Media plays a crucial role in shaping aspirations. If young girls only see teachers and designers on screen, they won’t aspire to become CEOs or IT specialists."

Kamola Kodirjonova, Executive Assistant at Masdar Uzbekistan, emphasized the importance of role models in education: "School curricula should highlight women’s achievements in STEM. Stories of figures like Marie Curie can inspire girls to pursue science and engineering."

ACWA Power is a global leader in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen. The company operates in 13 countries with an investment portfolio of US$97 billion.

In Uzbekistan, ACWA Power ranks second in terms of investments, implementing 15 projects worth over US$15 billion, fully aligned with Uzbekistan’s Strategy-2030.