Shavkat Mirziyoyev Outlines Comprehensive Youth Development Initiatives

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference meeting with young people, where he emphasized the importance of expanding opportunities for Uzbekistan’s youth. The President referred to young citizens as “the golden foundation of our nation” and highlighted key initiatives aimed at fostering their potential.

With youth comprising 60 percent of Uzbekistan’s population and an annual labor market influx exceeding 600,000, the government has prioritized employment and entrepreneurship development. Over the past eight years, the number of young entrepreneurs has tripled, now representing nearly 40 percent of the business sector. Concurrently, the youth unemployment rate has halved, and 1,889 mahallas have achieved full employment. The “Youth Register” initiative supported 180,000 young people last year with a financial aid package totaling 345 billion UZS.

Expanding Educational Opportunities

Higher education accessibility has improved significantly, with university enrollment now reaching 42 percent of the youth population. Increased state support for contract-based tuition fees for women has led to an elevenfold rise in female university students. Additionally, the number of young specialists achieving success in various fields continues to grow, with over 1,500 Uzbek students currently enrolled in top international universities. The “El-Yurt Umidi” foundation has facilitated overseas education for 2,300 individuals in the past seven years, contributing to the number of young scholars with academic degrees surpassing 4,000. Meanwhile, the national reading culture has gained momentum, with three million participants in the annual “Young Reader” competition.

Foreign language learning has also become a strategic focus, with two million young people taking up language studies in the past three years. The number of individuals attaining high IELTS scores has increased fivefold.

Uzbekistan’s youth policy has garnered international recognition, placing the country among the top ten nations actively implementing the UN-led “Youth 2030” strategy.

New Initiatives for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship

The President announced three key documents aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship and employment. A new fund under the Youth Affairs Agency, with an allocation of $100 million, will provide young entrepreneurs with preferential loans up to 2.5 billion UZS and investments up to 2 billion UZS for startup projects. Additionally, the National Bank will receive $100 million to implement banking services that transform youth ideas into real projects. A commission comprising regional governors, bank representatives, and business leaders will oversee graduate employment.

The third document outlines plans to transform “Aloqabank” into a primary financial institution for youth business support, with an allocation of $200 million. Preferential microloans of up to 100 million UZS for seven years will be provided to self-employed individuals. Entrepreneurs creating businesses and hiring at least 20 young employees will qualify for loans up to 5 billion UZS, with at least 30 percent of these funds allocated to women’s entrepreneurship.

This year, the government aims to employ 5.2 million people, with a substantial portion of jobs designated for young professionals. Young individuals who generate at least 100 million UZS from efficient land use will receive land under simplified conditions. Industrial mortgage beneficiaries will receive modern equipment on preferential terms. Moreover, service enterprises hiring young employees with a minimum salary of 3 million UZS will benefit from a reduced 1 percent social tax rate.

Creative and Digital Economy Development

Youth constitute 98 percent of the creative economy workforce, and a new legal framework for this sector was introduced last year. Creative industry parks will be established in various regions, offering tax benefits until 2030. Business schools will train young individuals in e-commerce and innovative business methods.

To support foreign language proficiency, qualified students in remote regions will be eligible for interest-free loans up to 120 million UZS. A “2+6” scheme will reimburse youth studying languages at private educational centers.

In the IT sector, 300,000 additional young people will join the “One Million Coders” project. A long-term strategy for a “Digital Social Ecosystem” will also be developed.

Education and Talent Development

Education remains a crucial tool for poverty reduction. Interest-free educational loans, additional grants, and contract payment assistance will be provided to at least one child from low-income families. A “Bright Future” initiative will support talented youth from socially vulnerable backgrounds in studying abroad. The Youth Affairs Agency will assist every student abroad, while top-100 international university graduates will have their tuition and living expenses fully covered and will be offered government positions without a competitive selection process.

Young scholars under 35 who obtain academic degrees from prestigious international universities will be eligible for interest-free housing loans up to 800 million UZS, repayable over 10 years. Monetary rewards for winners of international scientific Olympiads will increase fivefold.

Quotas under the “El-Yurt Umidi” foundation will be expanded for key sectors, including energy, transport, urbanization, modern architecture, and medicine. Additionally, a new state scholarship from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief will be introduced for top graduates of military academies. Engineering Olympiads and competitions will also be launched, offering the best graduates grants for admission to technical universities.

Strengthening Youth Ideological Resilience

The President emphasized the importance of protecting young people from destructive ideologies. Special care will be given to youth from difficult upbringings, helping them find their place in society. To foster patriotism, the “Vatan Tayanchi” (Support of the Motherland) Movement has been launched, already attracting over 300,000 participants. This initiative will be expanded to vocational schools, technical colleges, and private institutions, reaching one million students. Additionally, the “Shijoat va G’ayrat” (Courage and Determination) sports games will be held in mahallas, with winners receiving recommendations for admission to military academies.

The measures and initiatives proposed during the meeting are expected to create significant opportunities for youth development, serving as a powerful incentive for young individuals to pursue their ambitions. The President reaffirmed that youth support remains a top national priority.