AKIPRESS.COM - Ambassador of the European Union in Uzbekistan Charlotte Adriaen and UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Matilda Dimovska visited Termez to open the newly established EU Knowledge Centre.

The Centre aims to enhance capacities of Surkhandarya region to educate and train Afghan citizens. It is a successful outcome of a common effort by the EU, UNDP and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, UzA reported.

Ambassador Adriaen noted that in the European Year of Skills the European Union continues to support the Afghan people under the current difficult circumstances.

"This new initiative is part of the effort and was requested by our Uzbek partners, which confirms a high commitment of the Uzbekistan Government and the EU to provide support to Afghan citizens no matter where they are, displaced and away from their motherland for reasons out of their control. We hope that the project implemented by UNDP, our long-term partner, will ensure that Afghan citizens living in Uzbekistan benefit from gaining new knowledge and skills that will help them to improve their livelihoods and support their families," Ambassador Charlotte Adriaen said.

The EU Knowledge Centre complements the already existing Educational Centre for Training of Afghan Citizens (ECTAC) established by the government of Uzbekistan in 2017. The EU Knowledge Centre provides a platform for teamwork, self-study, and networking.

Numerous study spaces allow the hosting of team discussions and brainstorming sessions with representatives of the private sector interested in assisting Afghan students in their entrepreneurial endeavors.