President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has visited Uzbekistan Youth Forum and greeted everyone in connection with the event, which is being held in the country for the first time.

“Every time I communicate with young people, you inspire me, fill my heart with joy. I know very well that each of you is eager to serve our Motherland and people. I value you immensely as the greatest wealth, priceless treasure of Uzbekistan”, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“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 support of the family, preschool, school and higher education, institutions of science and culture as the most important basis for the future Renaissance. Therefore, we are carrying out fundamental reforms in these spheres. 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 the state noted that during the coronavirus pandemic, young people became the mainstay of people, as volunteers, they widely participated in the “Generosity and Support” Nationwide Movement and provided practical assistance to families in difficult situations.

As is known, Tashkent's experience of working with youth has been formed, within the framework of which a direct systemic study of the problems, proposals, and wishes of youth has been established. Youth festivals were held in cities and districts to spread this practice throughout the country.

“Within the framework of these events, many of you held an open dialogue with ministers, hokims, and other responsible persons. I watched them on TV. I was very pleased with the willingness of our youth to raise urgent issues, their attentiveness. I am very pleased to see that we have many young people with a broad outlook, inquisitive and progressive thinking”, said the Head of the 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. To effectively implement the state youth policy, responsible organizations were instructed to systematically study the social problems of youth, coordinate activities in this area.

From now on, hokims of regions, districts and cities, ministers and responsible leaders will hold regular meetings with young people. Hokims will develop and ensure the implementation of roadmaps for solving youth problems. They will report to local councils 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. An initiative was forwarded and received active support from businesspeople to assign one unemployed young person to one entrepreneur based on the principle “Every entrepreneur – youth assistant”. The Head of the 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 crafts. 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 the state announced the creation of youth small industrial zones in the regions based on the experience of free economic zones. These industrial zones will implement business projects for young people.

“A special fund will be created under the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade to finance innovative ideas and projects of youth, to which $100 million will be allocated. And the funds will be directed to the implementation of youth projects at low-interest rates and on favorable terms. Production facilities will be built in small industrial zones, which will be provided to young people on preferential terms of rent and leasing.

Responsible persons at the forum were given instructions in this regard.

“Today, many young people set an example to their peers and are actively involved in the process of social renewal. However, some 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 $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.

Under the state program “Yoshlar – kelajagimiz” (Youth – our future), 8 coworking centers “Yosh tadbirkorlar” (Young entrepreneurs) and 70 complexes “Yoshlar mehnat guzari” (Youth labor neighborhood) will be created next year.

“A serious problem our boys and girls face today is the employment of graduates”, the President said. – Unfortunately, activities in this direction are not carried out on a systemic basis. Therefore, it is no secret that graduates of schools and colleges, and sometimes even universities, find it difficult to find work.

As is known, at present, in Andijan, Fergana and Namangan regions, 7-11-graders 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 hokimiyat.

“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 the 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 noted.

The President’s address to the youth continues.

UzA