Uzum has become the first national IT company to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan. This collaboration aims to train vulnerable populations across the country in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
Despite the rapid growth of digital financial services and online commerce in Uzbekistan, banking and financial services penetration and digital literacy levels remain low, especially in remote regions and small towns. The development of digital platforms and the high rate of Internet penetration in Uzbekistan present new opportunities for entrepreneurship and job creation. Currently, more than 10,000 companies and entrepreneurs from across the country sell their goods on Uzum Market, with over 30% of them being women.
Uzum and UNDP share a common interest in addressing the lack of digital and financial literacy skills among unemployed women and young people. The joint educational programs and the utilization of Uzum's digital and logistics infrastructure will drive employment growth and entrepreneurship development in Uzbekistan.
“We are ready to teach the basics of digital literacy and business management and provide convenient and understandable services for the implementation of these skills,” commented Roman Lavrentiev, Uzum's Chief Operating Officer. “By developing financial services, a marketplace, and convenient banking tools for private users and entrepreneurs, we create equal opportunities for all residents of the country — men and women, residents of the capital, and small towns. This principle unifies me and my colleagues from UNDP in this joint project.”
“Our common goal is to create a structure aimed at closing the digital and financial literacy skills gap among the unemployed. This initiative aims to empower women and young people by providing them with the skills needed in the modern world. We see Uzum as a long-term partner with promising potential. The ecosystem's contribution to the development of the country's economy is already noticeable. The choice of Uzum by investors gives confidence in a stable partnership and the fact that now the ecosystem is the first IT unicorn in Uzbekistan,” Anas Qarman, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, added.
The parties have agreed to develop comprehensive training materials focused on basic financial literacy for e-commerce and to conduct seminars and trainings in the regions to ensure effective dissemination and assimilation of skills by the residents of the country.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to helping Uzbekistan eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, bridge digital gaps, and promote inclusivity.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)