Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that poverty reduction will become a national movement in the country. The leader emphasized that improving family welfare should be a daily task for officials at all levels, from the government to district organizations.
During a meeting on poverty alleviation, Mirziyoyev outlined several new measures. A program called «From Poverty to Prosperity» is being prepared, which will define several areas of future activity.
The National Social Protection Agency, together with local administrations, will conduct an inventory of mahallas (communities) to create a «portrait» of low-income families and develop individual support schemes.
Special attention will be given to infrastructure, with $1.6 billion allocated for this purpose. The funds will be used to install pumps and solar panels in 300 mahallas, while issues with water supply, electrification, roads, and internet connectivity will be addressed in 500 communities.
The government will continue to support entrepreneurs. Mirziyoyev cited statistics showing that the republic has over nine thousand businessmen who have created at least 50 jobs each. State assistance will allow them to expand production and employ more people.
Tax benefits for companies in the catering and textile industries will be extended for two more years. Similar fiscal relief will be maintained for each employee hired from low-income categories.
In recent years, 800,000 Uzbeks have received about 260,000 hectares of land for use. An additional 50,000 hectares will be distributed among 100,000 families living below the poverty line.
A microfinance program for self-employed, small and medium-sized businesses will continue, with 10 trillion sums ($785 million) allocated from the budget over 2024-2025.
The president noted that the poverty rate in the country is decreasing by 3% annually. However, he stressed that progress is uneven across regions and that poverty cannot be overcome by monetary payments and benefits alone. Mirziyoyev concluded that attention should be paid to training people in professions and providing them with work.
