OSCE-supported conference discusses the future of open government data in Tashkent

The international conference Open Data Tashkent 2019 took place at Inha University in Tashkent on 27 September 2019. The event is part of the project Support of Uzbekistan in improvement of Open Data Management-2019. The project is implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan together with the State Committee on Statistics, and the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications.

The conference was attended by the heads of the ministries and other state bodies responsible for introducing and updating open data at the state portal; international organizations, international and local open data experts, and students of Inha University.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor, underlined that most of the priorities of Uzbekistan’s 2017 – 2021 Action Strategy are related to OSCE commitments. “Today’s event is important because it offers a platform for dialogue on co-operation and innovation for the future of Uzbekistan. The conference stresses the importance of the accessibility of data in a useable format as individuals, entities or investors,” he said.

The conference was organized in recognition of the state policy for further development of open data in Uzbekistan, and in particular the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to ensure openness and transparency of public administration, and improving statistical capacity of the country."

During the event participants discussed recommendations on improving the quality of data at the state portal data.gov.uz. Uzbekistan’s accession to the International Open Data Charter and development of a road map to improve Uzbekistan’s positions in the international rankings "Global Open Data Index" and "Open Data Barometer", as well as upcoming hackathon "Open Data Challenge"  were also part of the discussion.