On April 13–14, 2026, the International Congress “Central Asia – European Union” was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Khovar reported citing the press center of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan’s Minister of Education and Science, Rahim Saidzoda, highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-border cooperation in education and science.

Speaking at a plenary session titled “Integration of Education and Science as the Foundation for a Sustainable Partnership between Central Asia and the European Union,” he outlined priority areas for international cooperation. He said three key strategic goals are being pursued to develop the sectors: advancing engineering and medical education by aligning programs with European standards; attracting grants and expanding participation in academic exchange programs; and strengthening links between science and industry through the adoption of digital and “green” technologies.

Saidzoda proposed several measures to achieve these goals, including creating joint educational programs, organizing faculty and student exchanges, establishing a regional grant fund, and opening a regional coordination center for cooperation.

He noted that such initiatives would expand opportunities for education, internships and employment for young people, while contributing to economic growth and strengthening national health care and engineering sectors.

The congress program included ministerial-level panel discussions, academic debates and sector-specific meetings in economics, technology and medicine. Participants discussed expanding interuniversity cooperation, implementing joint programs and advancing scientific research.

On the sidelines of the event, Saidzoda met with international counterparts and representatives of higher education institutions from participating countries. They discussed academic exchanges, joint programs, investment in education and collaborative research projects.

The congress served as a key platform for strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union. It brought together ministers, university leaders, representatives of international organizations and experts.