25 August, 2026
Opening Remarks
Welcome and Introduction to the Conference
09:30 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:20 Sodyq Safoev, Dr., Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Marlies Linke, Head of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Central Asian Regional Office
10:00 – 10:20 Sodyq Safoev, Dr., Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Marlies Linke, Head of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Central Asian Regional Office
10:20 – 12:30 Session 1. Green Transition and the Transformation of Labor Markets: Global Trends and the Regional Specificity of Central Asia
Moderator: Akram Umarov, Assoc. Prof, PhD, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, UWED (Uzbekistan)
10:20 – 10:30 Keynote speaker: Sodyq Safoev, Dr., Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan
10:30 – 10:45 Thomas Philippou, International energy efficiency consultant (Greece) “From Skills Gap to Green Growth: The Role of Green transition in Shaping New Labor Market Competencies in Central Asia “
10:45 – 11:00 Khaetjon Ibragimov, Doctor of Economics, Leading Researcher at the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics, IAIS (Uzbekistan), "Energy Transformation of Uzbekistan: Synthesis of Renewable Energy Sources and Nuclear Energy as a Driver for the Formation of a New Generation Labor Market"
11:00 – 11:15 Zhongwei Sun, Professor and Vice Dean of the School of Politics and Public Administration, South China Normal University (China), “Green Transition and the Transformation of Skill Formation among Chinese Automotive Workers Evidence from School-Enterprise Cooperation in VET”
11:15 – 11:30 Ainur Sospanova, Chairperson of the Board of the QAZAQ GREEN Renewable Energy Association (Kazakhstan), "Challenges and Opportunities for the Labor Market in the Electric Power Sector of Kazakhstan in the Era of Green Transition"
11:45 – 12:20 Discussion
12:20-13:00 Coffee break
13:00-14:30 Session 2. New Jobs and Human Capital: Education, Skills, and Competencies
Moderator: Timur Dadabaev, Professor on International Relations, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovations, UWED (Uzbekistan)
13:00-13:15 Azamat Seitov, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Head of the Center for Anthropology and Conflictology, IAIS (Uzbekistan), "The Gap Between Educational Offerings and Labor Market Expectations in the Framework of Developing Green Skills Among Uzbek Youth."
13:15-13:30 Nurkhat Zhakiev, Professor, Astana IT University Visiting Scholar, Davis Center, Harvard University (Kazakhstan), “Building a Workforce for the Green Energy Sector and Integrating Harvard University’s Best Practices into the Central Asian Education System.”
13:30-13:45 Kairatbek Dzhamangulov, Center for Social Research, Institute of Philosophy, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, "Green Skills vs. Real Demand: Findings from the Kyrgyz Labor Market Study (2025)"
13:45-14:00 Yerlan Karimov, Advisor to the international company “Aretera Public Affairs” (Kazakhstan)
Risks and Opportunities: How Green Jobs Can Diversify Kazakhstan's Economy
Risks and Opportunities: How Green Jobs Can Diversify Kazakhstan's Economy
14:00-14:10 Jamshed Safarov, CEO of the travel company Veres Vert (Uzbekistan), "Impact of the Green Transition on the Travel and Hospitality Workforce: Upskilling Challenge or Seizing the Opportunity?"
14:10-14:30 Discussion
14:30-15:30 Lunch
15:30-15:45 Session 3. Green Transition in the Context of Global Geoeconomics: Challenges and Strategies for Central Asia
Moderator: Murat Bakhadirov, PhD, Assoc. Prof. of the Department of International Relations, UWED (Uzbekistan)
15:45 - 16:00 Boriy Alikhanov, Member of the Committee on Entrepreneurship, Competition Development, and Industry of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “Green economy as a new socioeconomic formation: technological and institutional aspects.”
16:00 - 16:15 Kishlay Kirti, Research associate at the Centre for Migration, Mobility and Diaspora Studies in the Indian Council of World Affairs (India), "How can regional cooperation strengthen the resilience of labour markets?"
16:15 - 16:30 Mushtariy Usmonova, expert at the Center for European Studies IAIS, "International experience in developing green competencies in the university-business-government triangle"
16:30 - 16:45 Orkhan Yolchuyev, Director and Co-founder of the Center for Analysis of Strategic Policy and International Affairs (Azerbaijan), “Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan's Green Agenda in the Context of the Global Geoeconomy: Development of Solar and Wind Energy”
16:45-17:15 Rustam Makhmudov, Assoc. Prof. of UWED, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced International Studies (Uzbekistan),"The formation of a global green transition ecosystem and the place of Central Asia in this process"
17:15-17:30 Discussion
Group photo
16:00 - 16:15 Kishlay Kirti, Research associate at the Centre for Migration, Mobility and Diaspora Studies in the Indian Council of World Affairs (India), "How can regional cooperation strengthen the resilience of labour markets?"
16:15 - 16:30 Mushtariy Usmonova, expert at the Center for European Studies IAIS, "International experience in developing green competencies in the university-business-government triangle"
16:30 - 16:45 Orkhan Yolchuyev, Director and Co-founder of the Center for Analysis of Strategic Policy and International Affairs (Azerbaijan), “Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan's Green Agenda in the Context of the Global Geoeconomy: Development of Solar and Wind Energy”
16:45-17:15 Rustam Makhmudov, Assoc. Prof. of UWED, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced International Studies (Uzbekistan),"The formation of a global green transition ecosystem and the place of Central Asia in this process"
17:15-17:30 Discussion
Group photo
18:30-20:30 Dinner
26 August, 2026
Session 4. Approaches to Implementing the Principles of a Just Transition in the Context of the Specific Characteristics of Central Asian Countries
Moderator: Irina Chernykh, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Project Manager at Rosa Luxemburg Representative Office in Central Asia )
10:00 - 10:15 Munara Kozhomkulova, Chief Specialist of the Office for Employment Promotion, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), "Social Contract as a Tool for Implementing the Principles of Just Transition in Kyrgyzstan: From Poverty Palliatives to Green Employment."
10:15 – 10:30 Lesya Karatayeva, Director of Eurasian Center for People Management (Kazakhstan), "A Green Transition with a Human Face: Challenges and Solutions for Kazakhstan's Labor Market"
10:30 – 10:45 Laylo Tashpulatova, Dr., Prof., Head of the Department of International Economics, UWED (Uzbekistan), "The Principles of Just Transition and the Specifics of Their Implementation in Central Asia: Uzbekistan's Experience in a Regional Perspective"
10:45 – 11:00 Khurshed Kurbonshoev, Human rights lawyer and Digital law specialist (Tajikistan), "From digital inequality to digital justice: Central Asian labor markets in the context of green transformation"
11:00 – 11:15 Azat Irmanov, Anti-Corruption Programme Officer at UNODC, "A Just Green Transition: An Effective Combination of Incentives and Mandatory Regulations for Business"
11:15 – 11:30 Kamalova Khatira, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh, "A Just Transition in the Context of the Environmental Crisis in the Aral Sea Region: Mechanisms for the Formation of Green Employment and Social Protection of the Population of Karakalpakstan"
11:30-11:45 Irina Ponedelnik “Whose Justice? Competing Narratives of Just Transition in Central Asia”
11:45 – 12:10 Discussion
10:15 – 10:30 Lesya Karatayeva, Director of Eurasian Center for People Management (Kazakhstan), "A Green Transition with a Human Face: Challenges and Solutions for Kazakhstan's Labor Market"
10:30 – 10:45 Laylo Tashpulatova, Dr., Prof., Head of the Department of International Economics, UWED (Uzbekistan), "The Principles of Just Transition and the Specifics of Their Implementation in Central Asia: Uzbekistan's Experience in a Regional Perspective"
10:45 – 11:00 Khurshed Kurbonshoev, Human rights lawyer and Digital law specialist (Tajikistan), "From digital inequality to digital justice: Central Asian labor markets in the context of green transformation"
11:00 – 11:15 Azat Irmanov, Anti-Corruption Programme Officer at UNODC, "A Just Green Transition: An Effective Combination of Incentives and Mandatory Regulations for Business"
11:15 – 11:30 Kamalova Khatira, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh, "A Just Transition in the Context of the Environmental Crisis in the Aral Sea Region: Mechanisms for the Formation of Green Employment and Social Protection of the Population of Karakalpakstan"
11:30-11:45 Irina Ponedelnik “Whose Justice? Competing Narratives of Just Transition in Central Asia”
11:45 – 12:10 Discussion
Concluding Remarks
12:10-12:25 Marlies Linke, Head of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Central Asian Regional Office
Rustam Makhmudov, Assoc. Prof. of UWED, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced International Studies
Rustam Makhmudov, Assoc. Prof. of UWED, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced International Studies