Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Youth Forum of Uzbekistan and greeted everyone in connection with this event, which is being held in our country for the first time.
— Every time I communicate with young people, you charge me with your energy, fill my heart with joy. I know very well that each of you is eager to serve our dear Motherland and people. I value you immensely as the greatest wealth, priceless treasure of Uzbekistan, — said Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the beginning of his speech.
— Whatever reforms we carry out in our country, first of all we rely on young people like you, on your energy and determination. As you all know, today we set ourselves big goals. We began to lay the foundations for the Third Renaissance in Uzbekistan. We consider the most important basis for the future Renaissance to be the support of the family, preschool, school and higher education, institutions of science and culture. Therefore, we are carrying out fundamental reforms in these areas. I am sure that our selfless and patriotic youth, whom you represent, will take an active part and make a worthy contribution to the historical process of creating a new foundation for the development of our country.
The head of state noted that during the coronavirus pandemic, young people became the mainstay of the people, as volunteers they widely participated in the national movement «Kindness and Support» and provided practical assistance to families in difficult situations.
As you know, the Tashkent experience of working with youth has been formed, within the framework of which a direct systematic study of the problems, proposals and wishes of youth has been established. To spread this practice throughout the country, youth festivals were held in cities and regions.
— As part of these events, many of you held an open dialogue with ministers, khokims and other responsible persons. I watched them on television. I was very pleased with the willingness of our youth to raise urgent issues, their indifference. I am very pleased to see that we have many young people with a broad outlook, inquisitive and progressive thinking, — said the head of our state.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the experience of Tashkent will now be implemented throughout the country. Work has already begun in Tashkent, Kashkadarya and Khorezm regions. In order to effectively implement the state youth policy, responsible organizations are entrusted with the task of systematically studying the social problems of youth, coordinating work in this area.
From now on, khokims of regions, districts and cities, ministers and responsible leaders will hold regular meetings with young people. Khokims will develop and ensure the implementation of «road maps» for solving youth problems. They will report to local kengash on this issue every 6 months and determine plans for the next six months.
Vocational training and business training for unemployed and unorganized youth will be organized within the framework of the Youth: 1 + 1 program. In addition, an initiative was put forward and received active support from business people to assign one unemployed young person to one entrepreneur on the basis of the principle “Every entrepreneur is a helper for youth”. The head of state approved this noble step, thanks to which at least 500 thousand young people can be provided with jobs in 2021.
Our people say: «A skilled person will not be left behind.» But recently, not enough attention has been paid to teaching our children in the hands of experienced craftsmen. Although the one who studied with the master strives to be worthy of him. He finds his place in life. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the “master-apprentice” tradition in the regions. A system of material incentives from the Employment Promotion Fund will be introduced for the artisans involved in this process, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The head of state announced the creation of youth small industrial zones in the regions based on the experience of free economic zones. These industrial zones will host business projects for young people.
— Under the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, a special fund will be created to finance innovative ideas and projects of youth, to which US$100 million will be allocated. And the funds of the fund will be directed to the implementation of youth projects at low interest rates and on favorable terms. In addition, production facilities will be built in small industrial zones, which will be provided to young people on preferential terms of rent and leasing.
The forum has given instructions to the responsible persons in this regard.
“Today, many young people set an example to their peers and are actively involved in the process of society renewal. However, there are those who find it difficult to find their place in life, who go astray, who need help. Therefore, it is necessary to create an electronic platform «Appeal of Youth» to establish a direct dialogue between young people, especially unorganized ones, and officials, the President said.
Particular attention was paid to the development of business skills among the younger generation.
Opinion polls have shown that the majority of our young people lack positive motivation, knowledge and skills in business and entrepreneurship. This means the need to intensify efforts to develop their entrepreneurial skills, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized. In this regard, the necessary measures will be taken to provide microcredits to young people who received a special certificate through training in professional and entrepreneurial skills, at a rate of 4 percent less than the base rate of the Central Bank. These loans will be issued for 7 years with a three-year grace period.
It was noted that US$45 million will be allocated for these purposes in 2021, as well as 100 billion soums of loans to each region for youth entrepreneurship projects within the framework of the Family Entrepreneurship Development Program.
Also, next year, in accordance with the state program «Yoshlar — kelajagimiz», 8 coworking centers «Yosh tadbirkorlar» and 70 complexes «Yoshlar mehnat guzari» will be created.
“A serious problem our boys and girls face today is the employment of graduates,” the President said. — Unfortunately, work in this direction is not carried out on a systematic basis. Therefore, it is no secret that graduates of schools and colleges, and sometimes even universities, find it difficult to find work.
As you know, at present, in Andijan, Ferghana and Namangan regions, students in grades 7-11 master at least one profession in addition to gaining knowledge of the school curriculum. A student who has transferred to the 11th grade is under the special attention of the district or city khokimiyat.
— Employers should be interested in hiring a young specialist. Therefore, the government is instructed to consider the issue of granting benefits to employers during the probationary period for young specialists, the President said.
The priority task is also to support children from families in need of social protection, to provide housing for young families.
Over the past three years, more than 5,100 exemplary young families across the country have been provided with affordable housing and an initial contribution of about 200 billion soums. As a logical continuation of this work, the task was set to develop and implement a program for the construction of housing for young people for 2021-2023.
— Since ancient times, our people consider the family sacred and protect it. When the family is strong, the society is stable. Let’s not forget that the result of all our reforms is directly related to a healthy environment in the family, the preparation of our children, especially girls, for family life, the head of state said.
It was noted that over the past 11 months of this year, about 25 thousand divorces were registered among young families.
— This negative situation should concern us all, it should cause serious concern. Taking this opportunity, I want to once again appeal to the general public, first of all, to our dear elders, wise and loving mothers: help us in this matter. I will be very grateful to all our young people for their initiative and activity in preventing family quarrels and reducing divorces, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed.
The President’s address to the youth continues.
