President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Reviews Draft Strategy “Youth of New Uzbekistan 2030”

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a comprehensive presentation on the draft national strategy titled “Youth of New Uzbekistan 2030”. This marks the country’s first holistic and long-term youth policy framework, designed to strengthen the role of young people and fully unlock their potential in the ongoing process of building a New Uzbekistan.

According to official data, Uzbekistan’s population currently stands at 38 million, with 9.5 million individuals — nearly 25 percent — falling within the youth age bracket of 14 to 30 years. Additionally, approximately 270,000 young families are formed in the country each year. These demographic realities underscore the need for a systematic, forward-looking approach to youth development.

The strategy outlines several key priority areas, including:

• Ensuring employment opportunities and supporting youth entrepreneurship;
• Developing quality and inclusive education;
• Promoting foreign language proficiency and expanding vocational training;
• Stimulating the labor market and providing comprehensive support to young families;
• Strengthening cultural, physical, and intellectual development;
• Expanding the volunteer movement and improving youth health;
• Establishing mechanisms for greater openness, engagement, and dialogue with young people.

During the presentation, President Mirziyoyev was briefed on the strategy’s main target indicators to be achieved by 2030. These include:

• Annual employment for 600,000 young people;
• Involvement of 900,000 young citizens in volunteer activities;
• Expansion of training centers to 90,000;
• Raising foreign language proficiency to B2 level for 450,000 young people;
• Reduction in youth crime rates;
• Provision of mortgage support to at least 10,000 young families annually.

In the field of education, the strategy proposes new measures to enhance access to quality education, support non-state educational services, and expand training opportunities in remote areas. Notably, it includes the provision of loans of up to 300 million UZS for the establishment of training centers in hard-to-reach regions, along with a reduction of social tax and personal income tax rates to 1 percent for instructors at these centers.

Additional incentives include the abolition of state fees for issuing foreign passports to young people with B2-level language proficiency, and a reduction of up to 50 percent in certain state fees for those achieving C1 level or initiating entrepreneurial projects.

Special emphasis is placed on supporting young families through the mortgage program, with plans to compensate a portion of interest on loans exceeding the Central Bank’s base rate, thereby easing access to housing.

To boost youth social activity, the strategy envisages grants of up to 100 million UZS from the Volunteer Support Fund, paid internships for active young people in state organizations, the establishment of a Presidential Award for creative youth, and the creation of “Youth Streets” featuring bookstores and cafés. Minimum standards for youth infrastructure will also be introduced and piloted in designated “youth districts and cities” across regions.

In the area of youth health and psychological well-being, the strategy aims to reduce the share of young people in the psychological risk group by 40 percent, establish a round-the-clock psychological assistance center, and increase the proportion of youth regularly engaged in sports by 25 percent.

The strategy further strengthens mechanisms for open dialogue and evidence-based policy-making. The Institute for the Study of Youth Problems and Training Prospective Personnel will conduct regular sociological surveys to develop the National Youth Index. Weekly meetings and direct dialogue with young people are scheduled every Thursday, with particular attention to addressing youth appeals.

International cooperation forms another important pillar of the strategy. Plans include launching international forums, global initiatives, a dialogue of generations, and an International Youth Congress, alongside major events marking International Youth Day on August 12. The strategy targets the participation of 100,000 Uzbek youth in international programs. Internships in global organizations under the “Junior Professional Officer” program are also envisaged in cooperation with the United Nations, World Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

For the initial implementation phase in 2026–2027, 56 projects across seven priority areas have been planned. A key component is the “New Generation Entrepreneurs” program, under which 20,000 young people will receive training in partnership with prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and London Business School. Additionally, 1,000 promising business projects will be selected, with access to loans of up to 500 base calculation units for a period of up to three years. Procedures for partial compensation of costs related to connection to engineering networks will also be introduced for young entrepreneurs.

Nationwide events planned under the strategy include the “Uzbekistan Loves Youth!” project, the “Hayot Fest” and “Talaba Fest” youth festivals, and the “Talaba Expo 2026” exhibition. Support will also be extended to the activities of the Robotics Association.

Concluding the presentation, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that all initiatives and measures within the framework of the strategy must primarily serve the goal of nurturing an educated, healthy, proactive, and patriotic young generation that occupies a worthy place in society.

The Head of State issued specific instructions to responsible officials to ensure the effective and timely implementation of the “Youth of New Uzbekistan 2030” strategy.