On August 26, the European Union (EU), the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan and International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) launched the first Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Uzbekistan in the framework of EU-funded project “PROTECT: Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries,” the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported.
The main purpose of the MRC is to expand access to services for potential migrants across the region on safe and legal migration and raise awareness on the risks of irregular migration and threats of human trafficking. This is the third MRC established in the Central Asia region.
The initiative supports national governments in Central Asia and the Silk Routes region in enhancing migration governance frameworks, institutional capacities, and migrant services.
“The European Union is pleased to support the establishment of the first ever Migrant Resource Centre in Uzbekistan,” said Toivo Klaar, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan. “Centres like this one play a crucial role in providing people with the information they need to make informed decisions about migration. In line with the principles underlying the Global Gateway strategy the EU works with partners across Central Asia to invest in sustainable, people-centred infrastructure – whether in the transport, digital, energy or social sectors – to create opportunities at home and abroad, thereby reducing the pressures that often drive irregular migration”.
“The Migrant Resource Centre in Tashkent is the latest of the network of 14 MRCs globally. It marks an important step in our cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan. This new centre will be very practical and timely for those considering migrating and returning, ensuring their choices are informed, safe, and rights-based. We are proud to support Uzbekistan in strengthening migration governance and services for its citizens,” said Sedef Dearing, Deputy Director General and Head of Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at ICMPD.
The Tashkent MRC will offer reliable, accessible, and up-to-date support to prospective migrants, returning citizens, and their families.
The MRC in Tashkent builds on the success of the ones established in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (November 2023), and Osh, Kyrgyzstan (March 2024).
