Agenda

Mirshohid Aslanov is a public policy strategist and former diplomat with over 20 years of experience in government, international relations, and sustainable development. He currently serves as CEO and co-founder of the Center for Progressive Reforms (CPR), an independent think tank that promotes inclusive, evidence-based policymaking in Uzbekistan.

Throughout his career, Aslanov has worked at the intersection of governance, reform, and global cooperation. He previously held senior positions within the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan and served in diplomatic posts in the European Union and Pakistan. His areas of expertise include policy design, strategic communication, and institutional development.

At CPR, Aslanov leads initiatives on good governance, digital transformation, and civic engagement. He is also a strong advocate for transparent, data-informed media ecosystems. Through the CPR Media Hub, he supports innovative approaches to public communication that counter disinformation, build public trust, and strengthen citizen participation in reform processes.

An experienced diplomat with extensive expertise in international relations and strategic leadership within Uzbekistan’s Foreign Office. He has held key positions, including Chief of the Executive Office at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Latvia, Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania, where he fostered strong bilateral partnerships. With nearly two decades dedicated to advancing Uzbekistan-U.S. relations, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Washington, D.C., and held leadership roles at the MFA and the Center for Foreign Policy Research.

In his current non-governmental role, Ambassador Sultanov continues to contribute to Uzbekistan's reform efforts, drawing on his diplomatic experience and public service background to support progressive change and strengthen international ties.

Ambassador Sultanov oversees CPR’s strategic research on IT education and digital workforce development. Under his leadership, CPR has delivered data-driven assessments—such as the flagship study with IT Park Uzbekistan—focused on aligning university curricula with market needs, improving teaching quality, and fostering stronger ties between academia and the tech industry to build a future-ready digital ecosystem.

Ummatoy Yuldasheva is an Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment of Uzbekistan, where she focuses on youth employment, digital skills, and innovation-driven solutions to social challenges. She also serves as the National Coordinator of the “Digital Generation” program, empowering thousands of young people across the country with mobile programming and digital literacy skills. With a background in Computer Science from Inha University and international experience from TFAS and ESCP Business School, Ummatoy is passionate about inclusive development. She is the founder of Anora, a platform that trains women in Central Asia in modern professions and AI. Her work has been featured in the Qatar Journal and recognized globally.