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Additional opportunities have been identified to support youth initiatives
A dialogue between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the youth took place at the "Kuksaroy" residence.
More than 60,000 youth representatives participated in the meeting via studios in Karakalpakstan, the regions, and the city of Tashkent.
Warmly welcoming the attendees, the head of our state noted that more than 22 million young people in our country represent a massive economic, social, and political force. It was emphasized that leaders at all levels must actively work on teaching languages and professions to the youth, engaging them in sports, supporting their ideas, projects, and startups, and creating conditions for them to have jobs and decent income, leaving no one without attention or support.
Thanks to the opportunities created in recent years, our youth have won 66 gold, 147 silver, and 221 bronze medals at international scientific Olympiads. The number of students studying at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Cornell has exceeded 500, while the number of our young men and women admitted to the world's top 100 leading universities has reached over 3,500. Sixty-three startup projects created by young compatriots have already entered the markets of the USA, South Korea, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates. Our athletes have won 720 gold, 671 silver, and 854 bronze medals on international arenas. Today, 35 percent of the business representatives in our country are young entrepreneurs.
In this context, Uzbekistan's recognition as one of the most dynamically developing countries in the Global Youth Development Index is a natural outcome. The upcoming opening of the World Youth Movement for Peace headquarters in Tashkent this year, along with hosting the 12th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, the "Take Off" international startup summit, and the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, will further strengthen this status.
Noting that 600,000 young people enter the labor market annually, a figure expected to reach 1 million by 2030, the President pointed out that creating conditions that allow the youth to find jobs corresponding to their interests and abilities is a task of paramount importance.
According to survey results among the youth, one-third expressed a desire to become entrepreneurs.
It was noted that last year, 400 million dollars were allocated to banks and the Youth Affairs Agency to ensure youth employment. Through the "Yoshlar Biznesi" (Youth Business) and "Kelajakka Qadam" (Step into the Future) programs, 15,000 young people started their own businesses, creating jobs for 50,000 people.
As a continuation of this work, the allocation of an additional 200 million dollars was announced to support youth entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, financing opportunities will be expanded: the loan amount for young self-employed individuals will increase from 100 million soums to 300 million soums. Projects of young entrepreneurs can receive up to 10 billion soums in loans. Investment in innovative startups up to 100,000 dollars will be permitted. Convenient financing packages will be introduced for young people interested in opening branches by obtaining franchises from local brands that have created more than 1,000 jobs in the service and catering sectors.
Starting this year, the "Kelajak Tadbirkori" (Entrepreneur of the Future) program is being launched, under which young entrepreneurs will be provided with loans for up to 7 years at an interest rate of 15 percent per annum.
Specifically, collateral-free loans up to 20 million soums will be provided to self-employed youth, up to 300 million soums to youth starting their own businesses, up to 2 billion soums to those intending to expand their activities, and up to 10 billion soums to entrepreneurs who have employed at least five graduates.
It was also noted that 30 percent of youth starting entrepreneurial activities face difficulties due to a lack of business skills. In this regard, youth business incubators will be established in every region to provide comprehensive services in entrepreneurship training, turning ideas into businesses, accounting and banking support, marketing, and access to domestic and foreign markets.
Noting the readiness of several prestigious foreign universities to cooperate in teaching entrepreneurship based on advanced international experience, a decision was made to launch the "Yangi Avlod Tadbirkorlari" (New Generation of Entrepreneurs) program, which aims to train at least 40,000 young people in business skills. The projects of the top 1,000 participants who successfully complete the program will be granted a 7 percent loan of up to 200 million soums for a period of three years.
The "Young Entrepreneurs" competition will be held annually, within which up to 1 billion soums will be allocated from the "Yoshlar Ventures" fund to develop and brand the 100 best projects.
From March 1, the expenses of young aspiring entrepreneurs for public services related to infrastructure connection will be covered by the state fund for the development of youth entrepreneurship.
The task was set to expand the experience of the "Voice Up" inclusive social initiative camp—holding similar events in every region to cover 1,000 young participants and organizing an International Inclusive Youth Camp in Samarkand based on the best initiatives.
Under the "Upshift" project, competitions will also be held this year in the fields of media, design, craftsmanship, production, and innovation. Two billion soums will be allocated to finance the top 40 startups.
Tasks were defined to update educational programs in technical schools (technikums) taking into account employer requirements, expand the reach of dual education, and improve the material and technical base.
Technical schools, like universities, will be allowed to open spin-offs, and up to 1 billion soums will be allocated for students' startup projects. Starting this year, technical school students will also be able to work abroad for six months to earn additional income under the "Work and Travel" program, with participants receiving loans to cover travel expenses.
It was noted that the support mechanism for youth with foreign language certificates is proving effective: the number of young people with such certificates has exceeded 600,000, and a corps of 72,000 instructors fluent in foreign languages has been formed. The number of private training centers has tripled, exceeding 38,000.
The initiative to create an Association of Private Training Centers was supported. Entrepreneurs who lease premises to member centers of the association will be exempt from income tax on rent and corporate profit tax. Additionally, the practice of sending teachers from such centers for internships at leading educational institutions will be introduced.
Under the "Ko‘mak" (Help) program, interest-free loans of up to 300 million soums are provided to expand the activities of foreign language training centers in remote and hard-to-reach regions. Training centers in remote areas will pay a social tax of 1 percent, and the income tax for teachers will be 7.5 percent (instead of the current 12 percent).
Additional benefits were defined for training centers that provide free education to youth from families in need on-site: they are exempt from land and property taxes, 50 percent of their utility costs will be compensated, and income and social taxes paid for teachers will be returned in the form of cashback.
Special attention was paid to the development of volunteering. It was noted that thanks to the established legal framework, the number of volunteers in the country has increased fivefold, exceeding 100,000 people involved in ecology, medicine, education, and emergency assistance.
To further develop the volunteer movement, it is planned to create a Board of Trustees and a Volunteer Support Fund under the Youth Affairs Agency. Annually, 20 billion soums will be allocated to the fund from the state budget, plus an additional 3 billion soums from local budgets. These funds will provide grants of up to 100 million soums for volunteer projects, and a point-based system will be introduced via a "social activity card."
The meeting also discussed issues of supporting young families and promoting reading.
It was noted that under the mortgage program for young families, the portion of the interest rate on loans exceeding 14 percent will be compensated by the budget.
Through the Fund for the Development of Reading Culture, creative orders will be placed with the most talented writers with a payment of 20 million soums per month for one year. Additionally, 50 percent of the costs for translating and publishing the best examples of foreign literature into Uzbek and national literature into foreign languages will be compensated.
The task was set to prepare a collection of 100 best works by the beginning of the new academic year and provide them to all schools and technical schools, as well as to reward the most active student readers with a prize of 10 million soums.
For entrepreneurs opening libraries, book cafes, and shops and selling 10,000 books a month, a mechanism for providing a preferential loan of up to 1 billion soums for three years at 7 percent per annum is provided.
The launch of the "Second Chance" project was announced, aimed at the accelerated social adaptation of youth returning from correctional institutions. Within the project, 8-12-month intensive courses in programming, web design, computer engineering, other professions, and foreign languages will be organized to assist with employment and stable income.
At the end of the meeting, the head of state spoke with the youth, listening to their suggestions and initiatives in various fields. During the event, reports from responsible leaders were also heard.
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