The SENIOR project strengthens relations between Europe and Uzbekistan

At the initiative of the ACIR Southern Europe Alliance, a presentation of the urban planning and architectural project “SENIOR” took place. 

The international business platform was created to assist in establishing cooperation between companies from Southern Europe and Central Asia. The presented project was developed with the participation of representatives of business organizations with similar experience in Spain, Portugal and Italy.

The creator of the project, Eduard Gulian, emphasized the social orientation of “SENIOR”. During implementation, proposals from urban communities to improve the quality of life and preserve important elements of the original local culture are taken into account. Moreover, any modernization should be carried out using advanced European experience and related financing technologies.

A cooperation agreement between ACIR Southern Europe and the government of Samarkand region was signed on 23 January 2023. Subsequent steps are aimed at promoting the region’s interests in Southern Europe. There are 6 major investment projects at the implementation stage (in cooperation with Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Florence, Milan).

At the next stage of interaction, additional presentations of “SENIOR” took place on 6 July and 19 September 2023. The joint meetings were attended by the deputy khokim of Samarkand region for investment and foreign trade, representatives of the Kingdom of Spain in Uzbekistan and representatives of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Spain, other major officials, specialists from ACIR Southern Europe and RealJet Capital. The essence of the architectural and urban planning project:

1. The methodology of urban acupuncture involves targeted interventions in order to effectively eliminate local problems of the metropolis;
2. Balance of economic, tourist and social development of the environment;
3. Symbiosis of various methods of financing: public, private, public-private (PPP), collective (crowdfunding);
4. 15 related subprojects with the participation of representatives of Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Middle Eastern countries;
5. Compliance with the “Uzbekistan 2030” strategy approved by the president of the republic.

The role of the creator of the project, Eduard Gulian, who made considerable efforts in organizing and conducting the events, was separately emphasized.

Many major officials and business representatives expressed interest in the SENIOR project, related solutions in the field of urban acupuncture methodology. We will present the opinions of the persons separately:

Jahongir Ganiev (Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Spain) stated that the embassy’s readiness to provide further support to the project, noting its compliance with the national values of the country;

Gonzalo Fournier (chargé d’affaires of the Kingdom of Spain in Uzbekistan): emphasized interest in the further development of investment relations between the countries, strengthening the presence of the Kingdom in Central Asia;

Rustam Kobilov (deputy khokim of Samarkand region) pointed out the project’s compliance with the objectives of the regional government to develop tourism and enhance cultural heritage;

Miguel de la Cruz Salcedo (director for Central Asia ACIR Southern Europe) recalled the proposal to jointly sign a “memorandum of understanding”, which should become the legal basis for the further implementation of the project (planned within the framework of the 25th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization on 16-20 October 2023);

Erkin Radjabov (deputy mayor of Samarkand) expressed agreement to implement the project in the city, asked questions about financing methods, participation of foreigners, allocation of space for subprojects.

Eduard Gulian (CEO of ACIR Southern Europe) emphasized the historical nature of the relationships being built: Uzbekistan played an important role in trade between the East and the West. It was through Samarkand that the Great Silk Road passed.

The next meeting between ACIR experts and representatives of the region is scheduled for the near future. The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to clarify and agree on the general plan, which should subsequently be presented to the Khokim. The successful implementation of “SENIOR” will provide an opportunity to integrate European improvement technologies into the urban environment of Samarkand, accelerating the pace of development of the metropolis without compromising the environment and quality of life of people.