Global Leaders Gather in Samarkand for the 2025 UN Public Service Forum

From 23 to 25 June 2025, the United Nations Public Service Forum 2025 will be held in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The forum will bring together high-ranking civil servants from across the world, international and regional organizations, civil society representatives, academic institutions, companies, and innovation leaders to discuss the future of public service. The agenda will include the theme: “Five years until 2030: Accelerating public service delivery for a sustainable future”.

The Forum is organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Agency for Strategic Reforms.

About the UN Public Service Forum

The UN Public Service Forum (UNPSF) is a major international platform that brings together governments, international organizations, and civil society to improve public service delivery, foster innovation, and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Its main objective is to develop strategies and approaches to strengthen the capacity of public service in support of sustainable development.

The forum annually focuses on current and priority areas of public administration, conducting a comprehensive analysis of its various aspects. It unites global leaders, policymakers, practitioners, innovators, international and regional bodies, academia, NGOs, and the private sector.

The international event was first held in New York in 2003 and has since taken place in the USA, Austria, Spain, Tanzania, Bahrain, Morocco, Colombia, Baku in 2019, and the Republic of Korea in 2024.

The forum serves as a platform for ministers, decision-makers, and frontline public servants to explore and enhance skills necessary for promoting innovation and transformation at both local and national levels.

Uzbekistan — Host of the 2025 UN Public Service Forum

This is the first time the forum will be held in Uzbekistan, and it is of great significance to the country. The decision reflects the strong cooperation between the UN and Uzbekistan in the field of public service. It also signals Uzbekistan’s growing foreign policy activity, diplomatic stature, and its aspiration for regional leadership.

Thanks to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visionary strategy, Uzbekistan has made notable progress. Partnerships have expanded, and the country’s openness to knowledge exchange with developed nations is gaining global attention. Hosting this Forum highlights Uzbekistan’s advanced level of digital innovations and reforms in governance and service delivery. Uzbekistan sees the modernization of governance not only as a means to boost efficiency, but also as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development goals. In this process, the President is seen not only as a political leader, but also as a principal architect of development. He has publicly acknowledged existing challenges and implemented the principle that “It is not the people who should serve the state bodies, but the state bodies that should serve the people”. The idea of “For the dignity, happiness, and satisfaction of every person!” has become a core value in the Constitution, legislation, and public administration.