Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a concessional loan of US$35 million to Uzbekistan to implement a project aimed at improving access to geospatial data for citizens and the private sector.

The project focuses on the digitalization of government services and supporting sustainable territorial development across the country. Uzbekistan will co-finance the initiative with approximately US$5.7 million.

Rapid urbanization in Uzbekistan—with over half the population now living in cities—places increasing pressure on land resources, infrastructure, and social services. However, the lack of detailed and up-to-date geospatial data limits the ability of authorities and businesses to plan effectively and make investment decisions. To address these challenges, since 2021 Uzbekistan has been developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), with the legal framework already established.

According to Tatiana Proskuryakova, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Central Asia, the project’s priority will be the development of the NSDI, completion of cadastral mapping, creation of a registry for engineering communications, and enhancement of coordination between the government and the private sector.

The project is being implemented by the Agency for Cadastre under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan over the period 2025–2030 and includes two key components:

The first component involves developing the NSDI at the central level. This includes creating three data centers, the digital architecture for the NSDI, and a national geoportal; standardizing data types; and ensuring unified and transparent access to current information.

The second component focuses on strengthening regional and municipal geoinfrastructure. It includes upgrading geodesy and cartography equipment, installing 80 permanent GPS stations (CORS), updating the UZKAD system, creating a unified address registry, and implementing advanced mapping technologies in Samarkand—such as a 3D city model and a registry of engineering networks.

The project will provide more accurate data on land resources, enhance property rights protection, and increase the investment attractiveness of regions. Improved access to information will help entrepreneurs make informed decisions when launching new businesses and enable local authorities to manage regional development more effectively.