World Bank grants $35 million loan to help Uzbekistan address geospatial data shortage

The World Bank has approved a concessional loan of $35 million to Uzbekistan aimed at improving access to geospatial data. The project will enhance the collection of information on land, infrastructure, and physical assets. According to the World Bank, the lack of up-to-date geospatial data poses challenges to Uzbekistan’s regional and urban development.

The Bank’s press service announced that the funds will help provide citizens and the private sector with access to geospatial data aligned with international standards. An additional $5.7 million will be contributed by the government of Uzbekistan. The initiative is expected to support the digitalization of public services and contribute to regional development.

According to World Bank data, over 50% of Uzbekistan’s population now lives in urban areas due to rapid urbanization. This trend has put increasing pressure on land resources, basic infrastructure, and public services – including education, healthcare, and transportation – especially in large urban agglomerations.

The rapid growth of cities has led to a shortage of geospatial data on land use and infrastructure. This lack of data hampers authorities’ ability to effectively plan and manage spatial development and limits the economic potential of citizens and businesses, the World Bank noted.

The private sector also faces challenges due to restricted access to geospatial information, including data on land availability and the condition of infrastructure such as transport, water, and energy networks.

“The absence of detailed and up-to-date data lowers the investment appeal of many areas, as entrepreneurs find it difficult to assess risks and identify promising locations for business ventures. This information gap undermines investor confidence and limits private sector engagement in key sectors of the economy,” said World Bank experts.

To tackle this issue, the government of Uzbekistan established a legal framework in 2021 for developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). This system aims to support informed planning and sustainable spatial development through transparent and efficient collection, storage, management, and sharing of geospatial data.

“Despite notable progress in developing the NSDI, further improvements to related public services are still needed,” said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia. “Priority areas include enhancing data-sharing between government agencies and the private sector, completing the creation of base cadastral maps, establishing a registry of engineering communications, and strengthening the capacity of regional authorities in managing geospatial data.”

The project, which will run through 2030, will be implemented by the Cadastre Agency under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance. During this period, the UZKAD land and real estate registration system will be modernized, a national address registry will be created, and data exchange between the government and private sector will be improved.

Additionally, new mapping technologies will be piloted in Samarkand, including the development of a 3D city model and a registry of engineering communications. These tools are expected to assist local authorities in managing urban development and preparing for climate-related natural disasters.

The project also envisions the creation of three new data centers, the development of digital architecture and a geospatial data portal for NSDI, and the installation of 80 continuously operating reference GPS stations.

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