The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $35mn concessional credit to help Uzbekistan improve how it collects and uses geospatial data, following global best practices. The project aims to advance digitalization in public service delivery and promote sustainable territorial development. The government of Uzbekistan will contribute approximately $5.7mn in co-financing.
Uzbekistan is experiencing rapid urbanization, with over 50% of its population now living in cities. This expansion has intensified demand on land, infrastructure, and public services, particularly in large urban areas. However, the country faces a shortage of detailed geospatial data on land and infrastructure use. The lack of data hampers the government’s ability to plan and manage territorial development effectively and reduces opportunities for both residents and businesses.
The private sector also struggles with limited access to reliable geospatial information related to land, infrastructure, transport, water, and energy connectivity. Lacking accurate and current data, businesses struggle to evaluate risks and pinpoint suitable investment sites, which weakens investor confidence and limits private sector involvement in key economic areas.
To address these challenges, Uzbekistan established the legal foundation for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in 2021. The NSDI facilitates informed planning and sustainable growth by allowing transparent and efficient gathering, storage, management, and distribution of geospatial data.
“While good progress has been made, further opportunities remain to strengthen the implementation of the NSDI,” said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Director for Central Asia. “These include improving geospatial data sharing, completing cadastral basemaps, establishing an infrastructure cadastre, and building the capacity of regional authorities to manage geospatial data. The World Bank is pleased to support this project, which will help the Government achieve improvements in all of these areas.”
The Cadastre Agency, operating under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, will carry out the project between 2025 and 2030.
The project has two main parts:
- At the central level, it will develop the NSDI’s digital architecture, set up three new data centers, standardize geospatial data, and launch a national geoportal to provide a trusted source of information.
- At the regional and local levels, the project will enhance mapping and surveying capabilities by adding 80 new GPS reference stations and updating the national land information system (UzKAD).
A pilot initiative in Samarkand will implement advanced mapping technologies, such as a 3D city model and an infrastructure utility cadastre. These tools will help local authorities better manage urban expansion and plan for climate-related emergencies.
The project is expected to improve the quality of land and property data, addressing issues such as tenure insecurity. This will enable the private sector to better use land and property resources, encouraging the growth of new businesses and boosting Uzbekistan’s economic development.
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