The key facts
- Talks between the head of the Migration Agency and the Swedish side took place on 9 November
- The pilot programme is designed for approximately 18 months
- Targeted programmes at vocational colleges and Swedish language training are proposed
What the sides agreed on
Uzbekistan and Sweden are preparing to launch a pilot programme in the field of migration and mobility, designed for approximately 18 months. Talks on this matter were held on 9 November by the head of the Migration Agency, Mukhsinkhoja Abdurakhmonov, with the Deputy Director-General of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket), Annika Gottberg. The discussion also involved the director of the Agency for Vocational Education, Azimjon Khusanov, representatives of the Presidential Administration and diplomats.
Education tailored to the needs of the Swedish market
The Uzbek side proposed studying the possibility of launching targeted educational programmes based at vocational colleges, oriented towards the needs of Swedish employers, as well as organising Swedish language training. Specialists from Sweden are planned to be involved in the educational process and in assessing candidates' skills; the prospect of opening a Swedish language testing centre in Uzbekistan is also being considered.
How the Swedish labour market works for foreigners
The Swedish delegation familiarised the Uzbek participants with the national labour migration system: employment of foreign specialists proceeds primarily on the basis of demand from employers, and hiring decisions are made by the companies themselves. According to the data presented at the meeting, in 2025 Sweden issued about 30,000 work permits to foreigners; among the in-demand fields mentioned were IT and programming, engineering and technical specialities.
What comes next
Separate topics of the talks were transparency in issuing permits, prevention of labour exploitation, countering unscrupulous intermediaries and providing reliable information about working conditions. The agency noted that the sides confirmed their interest in implementing the pilot programme and organising technical meetings between relevant specialists; further areas of cooperation will be considered at a meeting of the project's steering committee. For now, this concerns a preparatory stage: the agency's statement did not specify concrete timelines for launching the programme or the conditions for participation.
