Shavkat Mirziyoyev Reviews Progress on Poverty Reduction, Employment and Investment Performance
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a comprehensive report on poverty reduction, employment promotion, and investment and export performance. The report highlighted key initiatives implemented since the beginning of the year and assessed their effectiveness.
At the start of 2024, a new employment support system was introduced to enhance job creation. A significant step in this effort was the signing of cooperation agreements between 208 district and city hokims and banking sector leaders. In alignment with this strategy, bank branches have established specialized units operating directly within mahallas, with “mahalla bankers” appointed to facilitate financial accessibility and employment opportunities.
As a result, 239,000 people secured employment in January, followed by 480,000 in February. Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) received financial support through allocated loans amounting to 14 trillion UZS, including 2 trillion UZS specifically designated for entrepreneurial support programs.
To further assist the population, individuals are being informed about income-generating opportunities, provided with ready-made business projects, and enrolled in training programs to aid in their implementation. Employment registration with tax authorities is now standard practice, and regular monitoring ensures accountability among responsible officials.
During the meeting, high employment rates were recorded in Jizzakh, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Navoi regions, as well as through projects supported by the National Bank, Asaka Bank, Microcredit Bank, and the Business Development Bank. However, performance in the Syrdarya region and 24 districts and cities was deemed unsatisfactory. Consequently, corrective measures were taken against 30 officials who exhibited low efficiency in fulfilling their responsibilities.
President Mirziyoyev underscored the importance of intensifying efforts in the coming months to improve employment efficiency. Special attention was directed toward guiding the unemployed toward vocational training and income-generating activities. Additionally, he instructed that crops be planted on all available household plots and leased lands during the current spring season, with monitoring facilitated through the online-mahalla.uz platform.
The report also presented a positive outlook on investment and export performance over the past two months. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has utilized more than $6 billion in foreign investments and loans. A total of 1,100 SMEs, with a combined investment of $574 million, have been launched, generating over 17,000 new jobs. Meanwhile, exports of goods and services reached $2.8 billion, marking significant growth across key sectors. Jewelry exports surged sevenfold compared to last year, while chemical industry exports grew 1.7 times. Additionally, electrical engineering and food industry exports increased by 1.2 times, and tourism services exports expanded by 1.6 times.
International standards have been introduced at 132 enterprises, and 521 companies entered foreign markets for the first time, exporting goods worth $183 million in February alone.
Despite these achievements, the meeting identified low investment indicators in certain industries and regions. The causes behind these challenges were analyzed, and strategies to address them were discussed. As part of efforts to enhance the investment climate, a presentation introduced Dilmurod Qosimov as the newly appointed Deputy Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan. He will oversee the protection of entrepreneurs’ and investors’ legal rights and interests. President Mirziyoyev emphasized that prosecutorial authorities will play a crucial role in fostering a secure and favorable legal environment for investors.
Looking ahead, officials outlined plans to utilize over $8 billion in foreign investments by the end of the first quarter, with additional measures to boost exports and strengthen economic growth.
