WNAM MONITORING: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting with young people. During a videoconference, measures to further expand opportunities for the youth were discussed.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of state expressed his joy at the opportunity to meet with young people again, referring to them as “the golden foundation of our nation”.
Youth make up 60 percent of Uzbekistan’s population, and more than 600,000 young people enter the labor market annually, a figure that could reach 1 million by 2030.
Ensuring employment and creating favorable conditions for realizing young people’s potential have become priority areas of state policy. Over the past eight years, the number of young entrepreneurs has tripled, and today they account for nearly 40 percent of the business sector.
At the same time, the youth unemployment rate has decreased by half, and the number of mahallas free from unemployment has reached 1,889. Last year, the “Youth Register” initiative assisted 180,000 young people, amounting to 345 billion UZS.
Previously, at least 10 applicants were competing for each university seat. However, due to the rapid growth in higher education institutions, university enrollment now covers 42 percent of the youth. Additionally, state support for contract-based tuition fees for women has led to an elevenfold increase in female students.
The number of young specialists achieving success in various fields continues to grow. More than 1,500 Uzbekistan students are currently studying at top international universities. Over the past 25 years, the state program has enabled 800 young people to study abroad. The “El-Yurt Umidi” foundation has provided this opportunity to 2,300 compatriots in the last seven years.
The number of young scholars with academic degrees has doubled, surpassing 4,000. At the same time, the reading culture has evolved into a nationwide movement – participation in the traditional “Young Reader” competition has reached 3 million.
Particular attention is being given to foreign language learning. Over the past three years, the number of young people taking up language studies has reached 2 million, and those achieving high IELTS scores have increased fivefold.
Uzbekistan’s youth policy has gained international recognition, placing the country among the top 10 nations actively implementing the UN-led “Youth 2030” strategy.
At the meeting, the President announced the signing of three key documents aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship.
As part of these measures, a fund will be established under the Youth Affairs Agency with an allocation of $100 million. This will enable young entrepreneurs to receive preferential loans of up to 2.5 billion UZS and investments of up to 2 billion UZS for startup projects.
At the same time, a new system for the employment of university graduates will be launched. The National Bank will receive $100 million to implement a package of banking services aimed at transforming youth ideas and initiatives into real projects.
Additionally, a commission will be formed, consisting of regional governors (hokims), representatives of banks, and business leaders, to ensure the employment of graduates.
According to the third document, “Aloqabank” will be transformed into a key financial institution for supporting youth business projects, with an allocation of $200 million. The bank will provide preferential microloans of up to 100 million UZS for a period of up to seven years to support self-employed individuals.
Individual entrepreneurs who establish small businesses and training centers while hiring at least 20 young employees will be eligible for preferential loans of up to 5 billion UZS. Additionally, at least 30 percent of these loans will be allocated to support women’s entrepreneurship.
This year, it is planned to employ 5.2 million people, with a significant portion of jobs designated for young professionals.
Young individuals who generate at least 100 million UZS through the efficient use of land plots will be granted land under simplified conditions. Additionally, young entrepreneurs who acquire production spaces through industrial mortgages will receive modern equipment on preferential terms. Service sector enterprises employing young people and paying a monthly salary of at least 3 million UZS will benefit from a reduced social tax rate of 1 percent.
In the creative economy, 98 percent of the workforce consists of young people. Last year, a law was passed establishing the legal framework for this sector.
Moving forward, creative industry parks will be established across various regions, where residents will benefit from preferential tax treatment until the end of 2030. Furthermore, business schools will be set up to train individuals in innovative business methods and e-commerce services.
Foreign language proficiency plays a crucial role in job placement. Therefore, qualified young individuals studying at language centers in remote regions will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to 120 million UZS. Additionally, youth expenses for studying foreign languages at private educational centers will be reimbursed under a “2+6” month scheme.
In the IT sector, an additional 300,000 young people are expected to join the “One Million Coders” project. Additionally, a long-term strategy will be developed for the implementation of a “Digital Social Ecosystem”.
Education remains one of the most effective tools in combating poverty. To ensure access to higher education for at least one child from low-income families, interest-free educational loans, additional grants, and contract payment assistance will be provided. For talented young individuals from socially vulnerable backgrounds, a new initiative, “Bright Future”, will be launched to support their studies abroad.
The Youth Affairs Agency will provide support to every student studying abroad, while highly educated young individuals will be sent to top-100 international universities with full coverage of tuition and living expenses. Graduates who complete their education abroad will be included in the national talent pool and will be offered positions in government agencies without the need for a competitive selection process.
Additionally, young scholars under the age of 35 who have earned academic degrees from prestigious international universities will be eligible for interest-free housing loans of up to 800 million UZS, repayable over 10 years. The one-time monetary reward for winners and prize recipients of prestigious international scientific Olympiads will be increased fivefold.
Quotas under the “El-Yurt Umidi” foundation will be expanded for key sectors such as energy, transport, urbanization, modern architecture, and medicine. Furthermore, a state scholarship from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief will be introduced for top graduates of military academies.
Starting from the next academic year, engineering Olympiads and competitions will be held among students, and the best graduates will receive grants for admission to technical universities.
The meeting also addressed the importance of strengthening the ideological immunity of the younger generation and protecting them from the influence of destructive ideas. It was emphasized that young people with difficult upbringings require special care and assistance in finding their place in life.
To foster patriotism among 10th and 11th-grade students, the Vatan Tayanchi (Support of the Motherland) Movement was launched, already attracting more than 300,000 young people. This initiative will be expanded to vocational schools, technical colleges, and private educational institutions, reaching a total of 1 million students. Various competitions and contests will be organized, and in mahallas, the “Shijoat va G’ayrat” (Courage and Determination) sports games will take place. Winners of these events will receive recommendations for admission to military academies.
Speakers at the meeting highlighted that the proposed measures and initiatives will create even greater opportunities for young people, serving as a powerful incentive for them to pursue their ambitions.
