In a bid to address the pressing issue of unemployment and bolster entrepreneurship, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev conducted a comprehensive review of proposals aimed at increasing employment opportunities and reducing mandatory requirements in the field of entrepreneurship, the president's press service reported.
The latest official statistics reveal that 1,300,000 individuals are currently unemployed in Uzbekistan, with an additional 2.4 mn expected to enter the labor market this year. To tackle this challenge head-on, the government aims to ensure the employment of 5 mn people in 2024 through the creation of high-quality, high-income jobs.
Key sectors targeted for job creation include the service sector (2.5 mn jobs), agriculture (2.1 mn jobs), investment projects and industry (250,000 jobs), and construction (140,000 jobs). Additionally, a plan is in place to involve 2 mn people in business through the widespread adoption of modern financial instruments, including the implementation of a new microfinancing system.
During the presentation, officials outlined the program for the creation of new jobs and employment assistance in 2024. President Mirziyoyev approved the program and issued additional instructions for its effective implementation.
Emphasis was placed on supporting the 2,400,000 self-employed individuals in recent years, aiming to expand their activities, transition them to small businesses, and help them find a market. The introduction of the "My Business" platform and "First Step to Business" bank cards is expected to facilitate this transition.
To promote agricultural initiatives, the importance of connecting unused lands to infrastructure and launching projects was highlighted. The "Agregator" system was introduced, launching the "100,000 Exporting Farmers" program, with 15,000 hectares of land set to be auctioned this year.
Recognizing the need for vocational training for individuals lacking work experience, tax relief for enterprises employing citizens from the social register was underscored. The Ministry of Economy and Finance was assigned the task of identifying additional reserves and opportunities for creating new jobs.
Proposals to reduce mandatory requirements in entrepreneurship and simplify the licensing procedure were also discussed. This aligns with Uzbekistan's declared "Year of Supporting Youth and Business," where efforts are concentrated on creating more favorable conditions for doing business.
Starting this year, 34 types of reports previously required from entrepreneurs have been canceled, resulting in annual savings of UZS 500 mn ($40,490) for more than 21,000 entrepreneurs. In a bid to streamline reporting further, the President issued an order to introduce a unified reporting system.
Moreover, 16 licenses and permits were canceled to alleviate mandatory requirements for entrepreneurs, with a directive to communicate these reliefs to entrepreneurs, study their proposals, and enhance the acceptability of statistical reports.
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