President of Uzbekistan Attends Opening Ceremony of the 3rd International Forum “From Poverty to Prosperity” in Namangan

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the opening ceremony and delivered a speech at the 3rd International Forum “From Poverty to Prosperity”, which began in the city of Namangan.

According to the press service of the head of state, the President noted that against the backdrop of geopolitical, economic, and social instability in the world, as well as the consequences of climate change, global economic growth has slowed down, leading to an increase in the number of low-income populations. These realities present new and urgent challenges for governments, international organizations, and the global community as a whole.

In this difficult period, the fight against poverty in Uzbekistan has been elevated to the level of state policy. Efforts are aimed at ensuring that every person — especially young people and women — can fully unlock their potential. The updated Constitution guarantees that pensions, allowances, and social assistance cannot be lower than the minimum consumer spending.

As a result of consistent reforms, 7.5 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and in 2024 its level was reduced to 8.9 percent. By the end of the year, the goal is to bring this figure down to 6 percent. A key factor has been the doubling of economic growth, with per capita income expected to reach USD 3,500 by year-end.

Based on the testing of new initiatives and the study of advanced global practices, a “New Uzbekistan” model for poverty reduction has been developed. Targeted social registries have been introduced, and during the pandemic, a total of USD 8 billion was allocated for free medicines and social payments. This prevented 5.2 million citizens from falling into the “poverty trap” and helped avoid economic recession.

A system of working at the mahalla (community) level has been introduced — the lowest grassroots level. Individual work is carried out with each family, and necessary resources are allocated to increase their income. Every year, USD 2.5–3 billion is directed to the improvement of mahallas, better living conditions, and entrepreneurial infrastructure.

To raise rural incomes, 235,000 hectares of land previously used for cotton and grain were reduced, and citizens were allocated plots of 0.3–0.5 hectares. This has become an important step in increasing the income of 800,000 people.

“Thanks to such large-scale efforts, Uzbekistan is striving to meet its commitment ahead of schedule — to halve poverty by 2030. Moreover, today we are ready to set an even higher bar: by 2030, according to international criteria, Uzbekistan has every opportunity to completely eradicate absolute poverty — and we will certainly achieve this,” emphasized the President.

The “From Poverty to Prosperity” program is being implemented, consisting of seven priorities:

First. Not just employment at any cost, but the creation of sustainable sources of income. In 2024, more than USD 35 billion in investments led to the opening of over 9,000 new enterprises and the creation of around 300,000 high-paying jobs. The state is creating conditions for business, while entrepreneurs, taking on social responsibility, help low-income citizens secure permanent employment and income. This year alone, more than 270,000 members of low-income families have received permanent jobs.

Second. Quality education as the main “driver” of poverty reduction in the long term. Children from low-income families will be fully covered by preschool education; 80 percent of their expenses for learning foreign languages and acquiring professions will be reimbursed. Over the past five years, more than 800,000 people have been trained in modern professions and employed in well-paid positions. International vocational training centers are being established with certificates recognized abroad.

Third. Expanding women’s participation in public life. Female students are provided with interest-free loans for education, and opportunities for free master’s studies are being created. Today, 53 percent of all students are women; this year alone, 1.7 million women found employment. In 2024, USD 1.5 billion was allocated to support women’s entrepreneurship; in 2025, an additional 2 million women are expected to secure stable incomes. Within the framework of the “Daughters of the Digital Generation” program, 50,000 girls will be trained in IT, fintech, and artificial intelligence.

Fourth. Health care as the foundation of human potential. Doctors are assigned to low-income families, and comprehensive annual check-ups are carried out. The scope of guaranteed medical care will be expanded, and healthcare costs for such families will be cut in half — through free medicines and guaranteed care packages.

Fifth. Targeted social protection. The system has been completely restructured: the National Agency for Social Protection has been created, and “Inson” centers have been opened in all cities and districts, providing over 100 types of social services under the “one-stop shop” principle. Social workers operate in every mahalla. In 2024, 2.7 million citizens received services and assistance. Newly introduced forms of day care for those in need allowed 50,000 employable family members to return to work.

To improve the quality and coverage of social services, a USD 100 million project has been launched jointly with the World Bank. Separate programs are being implemented to provide school and vocational education for children with disabilities.

Sixth. Infrastructure as a key to reducing multidimensional poverty. Large-scale projects are being implemented in 1,000 mahallas with difficult conditions, home to about 3.5 million people. In 2025, another USD 400 million will be directed to improving mahalla infrastructure, creating jobs, and supporting entrepreneurship: 32 districts and 328 “vulnerable” mahallas have been selected for special development programs. Simultaneously, projects worth USD 1.3 billion are being carried out in 810 mahallas, covering water supply, sewage, roads, and the construction of schools and kindergartens. For low-income families, USD 200 million in annual mortgage subsidies is provided.

Seventh. Over 70 percent of state spending is directed towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, developing countries globally require more than USD 4 trillion annually to achieve the SDGs. In this context, there is a need for a “new financial architecture for poverty reduction” — with an objective assessment of risks, mobilization of resources, and increased efficiency.

In this regard, in 2026, Khiva will host a conference with the participation of international financial institutions, donor organizations, and partner states.

The forum was attended by President of the Islamic Development Bank Muhammad Al Jasser, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank Inmin Yang, First Vice President of JICA Sachiko Imoto, UN Special Representative for Central Asia Kaha Imnadze, Global Director for Poverty Reduction at the World Bank Luis Felipe López-Calva, and about 200 international experts.

The sessions discussed innovative approaches on topics such as market demand-driven measures, the potential of Islamic finance, business inclusiveness, and investments in human capital.

The forum will conclude its work on September 18.