Air Products and the U.S. Embassy are proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a state-of-the-art Makerspace in Qarshi, Uzbekistan.
On Tuesday, November 26, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick and Air Products Vice President for Central Europe and Central Asia Vaclav Harant officially signed the MOU to launch this exciting new public-private partnership. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and nurturing young talent.
The creation of this Makerspace is a significant step towards strengthening core competencies in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) for the youth of Qarshi. It will provide a dynamic well-equipped environment where students can gain new knowledge and acquire practical, hands-on experience.
Air Products’ industrial projects, including its core investment in Uzbekistan GTL in Qarshi, serve as essential economic and technological contributors. The American Makerspace Qarshi investment represents Air Products' vision of supporting community development. Being the flagship location of Air Products in Uzbekistan, the city of Qarshi will not only help in preparing more skilled professionals for the market, but also enhance their awareness of job opportunities in the industrial gas sector empowering them to navigate the job market with confidence and success.
Upon signing the MOU, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick said, “We are delighted to partner with Air Products Uzbekistan on this project. This Makerspace will provide the training and tools young Uzbeks need to succeed in the global economy and will build lasting connections between the people of our two countries."
Aligning with the New Uzbekistan's strategic vision, the American Makerspace Qarshi will contribute to the goal of creating knowledge-based economic opportunities, fostering innovation, creativity, and technical skills among talented youth, empowering them to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Air Products Vice President in Central Europe and Central Asia Vaclav Harant said, “We are excited to start this initiative directly investing into the future success of talented young people in Uzbekistan and are looking forward to seeing first results of our joint efforts."
The American Makerspace Qarshi will be a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring, and sharing. The space will be freely open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and will have a variety of maker equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, computers, and more. The space will provide hands on learning and help with critical thinking skills, with participants learning electronics, 3D-design and modeling, coding, robotics, and even woodworking. Teachers and staff can guide students in new tasks; there will also be open hours for individual and group projects. The American Makerspace Qarshi is projected to open in Winter 2024/2025.
American Spaces Uzbekistan provide welcoming environments where visitors can connect and learn about the United States through programs and lectures, as well as through books, movies, and magazines. They are part of a larger network of more than 600 American Spaces in universities, libraries, embassies, and other public venues in more than 140 countries. The U.S. Embassy currently supports three American Spaces in Uzbekistan, which provide free-of-charge educational advising for those who want to study in the United States, conversation clubs for young people to practice English language skills, and makerspace activities to introduce new technologies, 21st century digital skills, and academic resources. American Spaces also offer workshops on entrepreneurship, volunteering, leadership, and more. The U.S. Embassy is pleased to partner with private corporations like Air Products to prepare youth for educational and career opportunities. With Air Products support, participants will gain 21st-century workforce skills and access new technologies.
