2021-Year of Support for Youth and Public Health Promotion
The Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Oliy Majlis is the most important socio-political event in the country. Traditional since 2017, the event helps to outline key points of the outgoing year and sum it up, as well as determine the goals and objectives for the New Year. Therefore, Uzbekistan people are looking forward to this event with great interest.
The Address of the President to the national parliament focuses on the results achieved last year, the activities carried out within the framework of the State Program. Last year it was “Year of Science, Enlightenment and the Digital Economy Development”. A title for the next year is proposed, along with critical tasks for the advancement of the country, priorities of domestic and foreign policy.
The head of the state is anticipated to put forward a range of important proposals.
Here are the main points of the address;
Distinguished deputies and senators!
This time around, I am addressing the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan in a rather complicated situation, in contrast to what it used to be in the past.
We are well aware that today, humanity is experiencing a deep crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This is likely the biggest global disaster in a century.
According to the latest data, more than 81 million people in 191 countries fell ill with corona virus infection, while 1 million 765 thousand of them died.
The pandemic is damaging the global economy in the amount of, please note, about $ 400 billion a month. To date, 500 million jobs have been lost worldwide.
Unfortunately, this calamity brought about quite unexpected and tricky problems to the entire humanity, including our nation. Moreover, natural disasters and man-made catastrophes in Bukhara and Sardoba came to be other trials for our country to endure.
Thanks to the unyielding will, selfless work and steadfastness of our people, we have courageously overcome all these trials with the joint effort of the wider public and government bodies.
From the initial days of the pandemic, the entire governance and management system, all medical institutions switched to emergency operation mode.
Within a brief span of time, about 30 thousand medical beds were organized across the nation. Healthcare institutions were provided with essential medicines, cutting-edge protection means and diagnostics equipment. Over 200 thousand medical workers, as well as 150 highly qualified doctors and specialists from abroad were engaged in combating the pandemic.
More than 600 thousand compatriots around the world were taken back to the native land. Assistance has been organized for about 100 thousand of our citizens who found themselves in difficult situation abroad.
To mitigate and eliminate the consequences of the pandemic, the state took comprehensive measures for a total of 82 trillion soums. In particular, the Anti-Crisis Fund was set up, more than 16 trillion soums were allocated from the budget for measures to combat coronavirus, support the population and business. Along with this, practical assistance was provided to state enterprises and more than 500 thousand business entities as well as almost 8 million citizens in the form of tax benefits, deferred repayment of loans and financial aid totaling 66 trillion soums.
Within the framework of the national movement Compassion and Support, with the active participation of our generous compatriots, over 800 thousand low-income families received financial help for more than 1 trillion soums.
The systemic actions we took promptly and in a timely manner allowed us to prevent widespread contagion of this dangerous disease. Relaxed life and sustainable economic development have continued in Uzbekistan.
Esteemed members of parliament!
This year, in accordance with the State Program “Year of Science, Education and Digital Economy”, we continued reforms across spheres with resolution, designed to build a new Uzbekistan.
Estimates of the International Monetary Fund and international rating agencies suggest, Uzbekistan has managed to maintain positive rates of economic growth this year, despite the trials and among the few countries in the world.
In close cooperation with the European Union, important steps were taken to introduce the system of extended trade preferences, GSP+, in our country. This scheme will make it possible in the future to export more than 6 thousand titles of domestic products to the European market duty-free. In the textile industry alone, this will make it possible to increase the sales of goods abroad by almost $ 300 million a year.
In 2020, access to international financial markets expanded; for the first time, government eurobonds in national currency worth 2 trillion soums were placed at low interest rates.
This year, 197 large enterprises, thousands of small and medium ones and infrastructure facilities have been built in the country. In particular, a complex for the production of ammonia and urea and a plant for nitric acid in Navoiazot JSC were commissioned, so were the installations for the production of liquefied gas at the Mubarek, Gazli and Shurtan oil production enterprises, as well as the Tashkent Metallurgy Plant.
In the energy sector, the construction of six new power stations has begun on the basis of public-private partnerships with foreign investors. Their total cost is $ 2 billion, the total capacity is 2,700 megawatts.
Two new underground metro stations and an 18-kilometer-long over-ground metro line were commissioned in Tashkent.
Reforms in agriculture, the transfer of land to private clusters and cooperatives made it possible to increase cotton yields by an average of 10 percent in just a year.
About 500 clusters and cooperatives have been set up in fruit and vegetable cultivation, grain growing and animal husbandry. As a result, despite the negative impact of the pandemic, $ 1 billion worth of fruits and vegetables were exported.
This year, 91 thousand hectares of land have been reclaimed. Water-saving technologies have been introduced on 133 thousand hectares, which is twice as much as last year.
In order to widely support entrepreneurship, many benefits and preferences were provided. Business entities have been allocated 100 trillion soums of loans – almost 4 times the figures in 2016.
The year 2020, without exaggeration, has become a turning point in the field of social protection.
First of all, having recognized the poverty of a certain category of the population for the first time, we began a lot of work to reduce it.
A fundamentally new system of targeted work with low-income families, women and youth has been introduced in all districts and towns, in every mahalla. Within a short period, 527 thousand people were employed through this system.
In addition, owing to the provision of tax benefits to the self-employed population and the removal of many restrictions, the legal labor activity of 500 thousand people has been secured.
The allocation of 300 billion soums of soft loans and subsidies for the development of dehkan farms and household plots became the dawn for a new direction of social support for the rural population.
More than 500 modern companies kick started in IT parks established in Tashkent, Andijan, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Syrdarya and Ferghana regions.
This year, 3 trillion soums were allocated to improve centralized drinking water supply, which is 5 times more than in 2016. As a result, the degree of provision of the population with clean drinking water reached 73 percent.
This year alone, the group of recipients of social benefits has doubled to reach up to 1.2 million people. For their support, fivefold more funds were allocated from the budget compared to 2016.
The coverage of young children with preschool education has doubled in 4 years, reaching 60 percent. The number of kindergartens has tripled and exceeded 14 thousand.
In 2020, the parameters of admission to higher education institutions have increased 2.5 times compared to 2016, and the level of coverage of our youth with higher education has increased from 9 to 25 percent.
For the first time, about a thousand girls from low-income families were admitted to higher educational institutions on the basis of special state scholarships.
In the International rating of open data, Uzbekistan came 44th, having moved up 125 positions. An important factor in this was the introduction of the practice of publishing indicators in 20 areas in the field of state and public administration.
Another international recognition of our reforms is in the Index of Economic Freedom, where Uzbekistan has risen by 26 positions.
Reforms in the judicial sphere continued consistently, including the liberalization of the system of criminal penalties. As a result, 74 percent of the defendants this year were sentenced to non-custodial sentences.
616 people who were serving sentences but considered firmly on the path of correction were pardoned.
This year alone, 719 citizens were acquitted thanks to the provision for independence of courts.
Wherever the citizens of Uzbekistan are, their constitutional rights are reliably protected. This is suggested by the operation Mehr-3, thanks to which 98 more compatriots, mainly women and children, were returned to our country from Syria.
In the context of complex global geopolitical processes, the corona virus pandemic and the ensuing global economic crisis, Uzbekistan is actively pursuing an open and pragmatic foreign policy. Owing to our efforts and decisive actions, the country’s standing in the international arena has been growing.
For the first time in history, Uzbekistan was elected member of the UN Human Rights Council. The recent removal of our country from the list of nations of special watch in the field of religious freedom by the US State Department is also recognition of our ongoing wide-ranging democratic reforms.
Our global and regional initiatives, launched from the high rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly, were met with great interest and supported by the world community.
Honorable compatriots!
As you know, our national independence will turn 30 in the coming year 2021. Surely, together with you, with all our people, we will widely celebrate this historic date on the basis of the noble idea “We should live in a new Uzbekistan – a free and prosperous country!”
Today, while defining our plans and programs for the coming year, we will certainly pay special attention to the development of the most important and priority areas, to the consolidation of our achievements over the years of independence.
It should be noted that the pandemic has once again shown that radical reform of the primary healthcare system, the ambulance service, and the sanitary-epidemiological structure is a vital necessity for us.
The next wave of the pandemic and the risks that are currently being observed in other parts of the world require that all of us be even more vigilant and attentive.
Therefore, using the available opportunities and potential, the experience gained during the pandemic, as well as advanced foreign achievements; we need to raise the cardinal reforms in the field of protecting and strengthening the health of the population to a new level. At the same time, one of our most critical priorities should be the widespread adoption of healthy lifestyle, especially among young people.
We have set ourselves a great goal, namely, securing the foundation for a new Renaissance in our country, and for this purpose we must deliver an environment and conditions for nurturing new Khorezmis, Berunis, Ibn Sinos, Ulugbeks, Navois and Baburs. Crucial factors in this historic process, an integral part of our national idea, are the development of education and enlightenment, science and innovation, promotion of healthy lifestyle.
Our highest priority should be to empower youth to set and achieve ambitious goals. Only then will our children become a real force that can fulfill the age-old dreams of our people.
To this end, we will carry out large-scale reforms, guided by the idea “New Uzbekistan starts from the doorstep of the school, from the system of education and enlightenment”.
First, we organize high-quality upbringing and education of the younger generation in kindergartens, schools and universities, we mobilize all capacities and opportunities so that the younger generation grows physically healthy and spiritually mature, dedicated to its native land and people.
Second, on the basis of modern knowledge and experience, national and universal values, we will foster young people with independent thinking and the best human qualities.
Third, we will pay special attention to training our boys and girls in modern professions in demand, developing their industriousness and entrepreneurial skills, as well as implementing their initiatives, providing jobs and housing.
I am confident that together with such an educated youth with a powerful creative potential, we will build a new Uzbekistan.
In order to continue the work we have begun in these important areas and to raise it to a new, higher level, I propose to name the coming 2021 in our country as the Year of Support for Youth and Public Health Promotion.
We need to carry out extensive work on radical reform and further development of the directions defined in the title of 2021.
First, Our strategic objective in the development of preschool education for the coming years is to create the necessary conditions for its full coverage of all children.
Next year we have to increase the coverage of preschool education to 65 percent, and to 75 percent by the end of 2023. Also, due to the allocation of 600 billion soums of subsidies from the budget, 2,000 non-state kindergartens will be established, the share of the private sector in this area will grow to 25 percent.
Along with this, in 2021, the free school preparation system will cover 560 thousand, or 82 percent, of children aged six years.
Second, reforms will be accelerated to radically improve and perfect the quality of school education with the delivery of decent living and working conditions for teachers.
In the New Year, 2 trillion soums will be assigned from the budget for the construction of 30 new schools, to repair and step up the material and technical base of 320 schools.
Next year, 10 Presidential schools, 197 specialized schools in chemistry, biology, mathematics and information technology will start operating in the country.
Third, special attention will be paid to enhancing the coverage and quality of higher education. Starting next year, the number of state fellowships for higher education will grow by at least 25 percent.
We will double the quota of scholarships for girls from low-income families and bring it to 2 thousand. Special scholarships will be introduced for girls in need of social support who study excellently.
In the new year, 30 leading universities in the country will have the right to independently develop curricula, determine admission quotas and solve financial issues.
Fourth, science and innovation create the foundation for the country’s development. Next year, the number of doctoral students in universities and research organizations will reach 4.5 thousand, which is thrice the figures in 2017. An additional 240 billion soums will be allocated from the budget for these purposes.
Following these requirements, I propose to define the study of physics and foreign languages as a priority for the next year.
The Ahmad Fergani International Scientific Olympiad in Physics will be organized. Additional measures will also be taken to expand the scale and improve the quality of research in the field of physics, and create the necessary conditions for young scientists.
Fifth, we will focus our attention on youth employment and entrepreneurship support.
To this end, next year the vocational education system will be reformed based on new approaches in accordance with the requirements of the labor market and international standards.
From now on, the availability of qualifications will become a key requirement for blue-collar jobs.
In this regard, the Government is instructed to introduce a system for assessing the professional qualifications of citizens in demanded professions from January 1.
Sixth, a new system of special support for children from low-income families, full orphans, children with disabilities and those in need of treatment will be introduced.
In 2021, for the first time, 50 billion soums will be allocated from the budget to provide housing for 900 orphans.
In general, it is necessary to establish systemic work in this area and, I think you will approve of this initiative, to create a Public Fund for the Support of Children, allocating 100 billion soums to it from the budget. During the year, the allocations to the Fund will increase.
Dear meeting participants!
In 2021, special attention will be paid to healthcare as another important area and to the priorities in this area.
First. The systemic continuation of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic will remain among our most vital tasks in the coming year.
For this work, a reserve of 3 trillion soums has been formed in the state budget for 2021. These funds will also be used to vaccinate the population against coronavirus infection.
$ 200 million will be assigned to improve the quality of work and advance the material and technical base of the sanitary and epidemiological service, the creation of modern laboratories.
Second. Caring for the health of mothers and children is caring about the whole society, about our future.
Starting next year, children under 15 and pregnant women will receive 7 types of vitamins and medicines for parasitic diseases free of charge. These measures will cover 11 million people in 2021 and 17 million in 2022, it is planned to allocate 100 billion soums for these purposes.
Third. To raise healthcare to a qualitatively new level, it is necessary to strengthen the primary healthcare system, especially in villages and mahallas.
In this regard, instead of general practitioners in primary care institutions, the activities of medical teams will be organized, consisting of a family doctor and 5 assistants from among the nursing staff.
Each mahalla will have a separate system of work with children under 5, women of fertile age and pregnant women, people with disabilities, as well as those at risk of cardiovascular, oncological, endocrine diseases.
Fourth. Today, more than 12 thousand of our citizens suffer from leukemia and severe hereditary hematological diseases.
In this regard, next year, it is planned to allocate 250 billion soums from the budget for complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the field of oncohematology and intractable diseases.
For the first time, more than 5 thousand patients with acute renal failure will be covered by free hemodialysis services; 140 billion soums will be billed from the budget for this purpose.
Fifth. Further popularization of physical culture and sports is an important factor in ensuring the health of the population.
Next year, it is planned to allocate 100 billion soums for outfitting 70 physical education and sports facilities, 16 thousand kindergartens and schools with sports equipment. Also, special pedestrian and bicycle paths will emerge in all regional centers and cities.
Thanks to the widespread development of mass sports, in 2021 the proportion of the population constantly engaged in it will increase from 19 to 25 percent.
Speaking about sports, I want to emphasize that we are facing another important task.
The Asian Olympic Council recently decided to host the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Tashkent. Undoubtedly, this is evidence of the great confidence placed in our country. At the same time, we all understand what a great responsibility this is. We must already begin thorough preparations for the competitions of continental importance.
Sixth. Special attention will be paid to issues of improving cultural and enlightenment work.
420 billion soums will be channeled from the budget to intensify the activities of cultural and art institutions, to strengthen their material and technical base. In particular, 22 theaters and other cultural objects will be built and reconstructed in the regions.
Dear people’s representatives!
The main goal of economic reforms in the new year will be to reduce poverty and increase the welfare of the population. We intend to achieve these strategic goals through high rates of economic growth and creation of equal opportunities for all.
First. In poverty reduction, we will introduce comprehensive approaches and new non-conventional methods.
We need to clearly understand that the problem of poverty cannot be solved only by providing loans, social benefits or housing. This requires a comprehensive solution to issues related to education, healthcare, vocational training, and access to clean drinking water, energy resources and road infrastructure.
The most important factor in overcoming poverty is the desire of the person himself to get out of this situation, relying on their own strength and moving towards a specific goal. Therefore, next year in mahallas, over a thousand vocational training centers will be created. The centers will be allocated funds at the rate of up to 1 million soums for each student, and in general, 100 billion soums will be allocated from the budget for these purposes. Those who have completed training courses and want to start their own business will be able to receive subsidies of up to 7 million soums for the purchase of essential equipment.
Also, families engaged in agriculture will be allocated 10 acres to 1 hectare of land, depending on the capabilities and specialization of each district.
It is planned to allocate 500 billion soums from the funds for promoting employment and public works to ensure employment of the needy segments of the population.
Second. As part of structural reforms in the economy, it is necessary to accelerate the transformation of state-owned companies.
In 2021, the transformation of 32 large enterprises in industries of strategic importance is to be carried out.
Our focus will be on the widespread introduction of digital technologies into the activities of banks. We will prepare Sanoatqurilishbank, Asaka Bank, Ipoteka Bank, Aloqabank, Turon Bank and Qishloq Qurilish Bank for privatization. The state share in at least one large bank will be fully sold to strategic investors. In this regard, negotiations are underway with leading European banks.
Next year, state shares in such enterprises as Ferghanaazot and Dehkanabad Potash Fertilizers Plant, Coca-Cola Ichimligi, Beldersai and Charvak sanatoriums, Ichan Kala and Hyatt Regency hotels, business complex Poytakht, as well as 83 large enterprises of alcoholic, fat-and-oil sector and other industries will be put up for auction.
In general, the number of enterprises with state participation in the next two years will be reduced by at least 3 times.
Third. It is necessary to deliver a free competitive environment in the commodity and financial markets, as well as equal opportunities for entrepreneurs to access raw materials.
Here I would like to focus on the next question. As the economic activity and incomes of the population grow, the demand for energy resources also increases. Therefore, we need to complete the reforms in the oil and gas and energy sectors, along with the implementation of major projects. In particular, in 2021, the formation of a wholesale electricity market will begin with the participation of state and private power plants and consumers.
We will also abolish the monopoly and introduce market mechanisms in the supply of natural gas. Thus, producers and importers will have the right to sell, and wholesale consumers – to buy natural gas on the exchange. The company Uztransgaz will only deal with transportation of gas.
In order to expand the presence of the private sector in the liquefied gas market, import duties will be canceled.
In the field of jewelry production, entrepreneurs will have ample opportunities to purchase raw materials. So, from March 1 next year, the procedure for free sale of silver to producers through the exchange will be established.
Next year, the requirements for transparency in public procurement will be extended to 24 large state-owned enterprises. As a result, domestic entrepreneurs will be able to sell products to these enterprises for at least 10 trillion soums a year.
From now on, all government purchases will be under public and parliamentary control.
Fourth. Economic growth will be ensured primarily through the creation of competitive production chains and increased investment for these purposes.
The Government is instructed to draw up a list of promising clusters and develop a special program for their accelerated development by April 1 next year.
In the future, it is necessary to build up the potential to increase the production of industrial products “in the mode of processing in the customs territory”.
In the field of geology, this year, at an open auction, investors were granted rights to 21 deposits and promising areas. In 2021, another 50 fields and promising areas will be sold to local and foreign investors on the basis of open tenders. We must continue similar work in other areas.
In general, for the next year we have set the task of assimilating investments in the amount of 23 billion dollars. As a result, 226 large industrial and infrastructure facilities will be commissioned in 2021.
It is planned to launch two large hydrometallurgical plants at the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine, a plant for processing industrial waste at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine. Also, hundreds of facilities for the production of textile, construction, leather and footwear, food and pharmaceutical products will be built throughout the country.
At the Yashnabad Technopark of Tashkent alone, 11 modern electrical production facilities will be put into operation, thus their total number will reach 17, and the number of working personnel – 11 thousand.
New power plants with a total capacity of 760 megawatts will be commissioned in the Tashkent, Navoi, Samarkand and Surkhandarya regions.
An industrial complex worth $ 3.6 billion and a capacity of 1.5 million tons of kerosene, diesel fuel and liquefied gas per year will start operating in the Kashkadarya region.
Fifth. Macroeconomic stability is a solid foundation for economic reforms.
In this regard, the key task of the Central Bank and the Government next year will be to keep inflation at a level of no more than 10 percent within the framework of inflation targeting.
It is important to ensure that in 2021 our economy grows at least 5 percent, and the budget deficit does not exceed 5.4 percent of gross domestic product. The Government should take the necessary measures to ensure that this figure does not exceed 2 percent in the next two years.
Next year, the share of international bonds issued in national currency should be increased from the current 25 percent to at least 40 percent.
Another question – at present, in accordance with the criteria of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the state external debt of Uzbekistan is at a safe level. From now on, projects implemented in the regions through external borrowing will be discussed by local Kengashes and the public. A system of reporting to the public on the results of such projects will be created.
Also, external borrowing under the guarantee of the state will decrease, and more private capital will be attracted to investment and infrastructure projects. For example, next year, on the basis of public-private partnerships, it is planned to start implementing more than 40 large and medium-sized projects.
Sixth. More favorable conditions will be created for the development of entrepreneurship and small business.
Next year, on the basis of the principle “Tax officer is an assistant”, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to obtain information about the presence of tax debts from their business partners.
For the convenience of entrepreneurs, 105 types of licenses and permits will be canceled; procedures for obtaining 115 types of such documents will also be simplified.
We will continue to help our entrepreneurs who face a working capital shortage amid the pandemic. Until the end of next year, the benefits in tourism, transport and public catering will be extended. I also propose to extend the term for paying taxes on land and property for another year for a total of 400 billion soums. This preference will be able to take advantage of 20 thousand entrepreneurs.
In addition, for state purchases in the amount of up to 1 billion soums, the amount of advance payments for entrepreneurs will increase to 30 percent of the transaction value.
In general, 6 trillion soums of soft loans will be allocated next year to continue work on financial support for entrepreneurship within the framework of programs to promote family entrepreneurship. Another $ 100 million will be allocated by the Government to expand the Rural Entrepreneurship Development Program, implemented in partnership with the World Bank.
Seventh. A factor in accelerating the achievement of the targets for reducing poverty and increasing rural incomes is a dramatic increase in agricultural productivity and efficiency.
The priority task here is to increase the profitability of a hectare of land from the current average of 2 thousand dollars to at least 5 thousand dollars. For this, it is necessary to widely implement in agriculture the most advanced scientific developments and innovations, including agricultural technologies, water-saving technologies, biotechnologies, achievements of seed production.
Next year, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Centers will be created in all regions, providing more than 100 types of agricultural services on a one-stop basis, including such important services as improving soil conditions, combating plant diseases, and selecting seeds.
Eighth. All hokims of regions, districts and cities at the beginning of 2020 for the first time reported to the local Kengashes on the work done and further plans.
From now on, each village and mahalla will develop taking into account their specifics, identifying their points of growth. To this end, I propose to create a regional infrastructure development fund with a budget of 3 trillion soums next year. Its funds will be used to co-finance infrastructure projects proposed by local Kengashes.
In addition, 100 technoparks, small industrial zones, regional clusters and logistics centers will be created to develop industrial potential in 84 districts and cities.
Next year, 1.6 trillion soums will be allocated to create the necessary infrastructure in free economic and small industrial zones.
Within a month, the Government should develop and approve the Obod Qishloq and Obod Mahalla programs for 2021. Provide funding for these programs from the republican and local budgets in equal shares.
It should be noted that international financial institutions have also expressed their readiness to allocate $ 270 million for these programs.
One of the important factors in the development of regions is the provision of transport links between them. We need to create an interconnected transport network that will allow us to quickly reach the capital, major cities and tourist centers from all settlements of the country.
Based on this, the Government is tasked with launching domestic flights on tourist routes from March 1 of next year and introducing a system of partial compensation from the budget for the cost of air tickets.
In addition, a number of regional airports will be outsourced through public-private partnerships.
Next year, it is planned to launch 2 high-speed trains, and electrification of the Bukhara-Urgench-Khiva railway will begin.
By attracting the private sector, the number of bus routes between settlements, especially villages and regional centers, will be increased.
In Tashkent, the second stage of the construction of over-ground metro will be completed and a section with a length of 12 kilometers will be commissioned. As a result, underground and over-ground metro lines will be connected and form a single system.
In 2021, we will continue consistent reforms to develop tourism. Special attention will be paid to pilgrimage and domestic tourism.
For the improvement of territories, the development of water and road infrastructure around tourist facilities, funds in the amount of 1 trillion soums will be allocated from the budget.
Ninth. Next year, we will further bolster the social protection system.
There is a step-by-step transition to the social model of the definition of disability corresponding to world standards.
A new system will be introduced to provide those in need with prosthetic and orthopedic products and rehabilitation means. This opportunity will be available to about 50 thousand citizens.
The scale of work to provide housing for low-income families will expand. Thus, 2.4 trillion soums will be allocated for making an initial payment and subsidizing payments on interest on mortgage loans for 27 thousand families – this is 2.5 times more families than this year.
Tenth. Entering new export markets will remain one of the most important tasks of the Government.
Next year, it is necessary to intensify work on accession to the World Trade Organization and large-scale cooperation with the European Union.
A separate program should be developed for the effective use of the preferences of the GSP+ system in our country.
As you know, Uzbekistan recently received observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union. For a full-scale presence in the markets of the member states of this organization, we need to accelerate the work on bringing national technical regulations in line with their requirements.
In the new year, $ 100 million will be allocated to enterprises from the Export Support Fund for the purchase of raw materials and the production of export-oriented products.
Exporters will be reimbursed 50 percent of the costs of opening trading houses and stores, advertising costs abroad.
In general, the Government has been tasked to increase the volume of exports of goods and services by at least 20 percent next year.
Dear members of parliament!
Whether our reforms will find their reflection in the daily life of the people, whether we will achieve our goals, it largely depends on the effectiveness of the public administration system. Next year in this direction it is necessary to fulfill the following tasks.
First, a radical improvement in the activities of government bodies is required.
In many ministries and departments, the decision-making process is overly centralized. Duplication of functions is often observed, since they are not clearly spelled out and in full.
In this regard, the Government must, within two months, prepare draft regulations aimed at reducing overlapping departments, functions and bureaucratic barriers in management. It is necessary to provide for the optimization of the number of employees in the public administration system on average to 15 percent.
By the end of next year, it is necessary to increase the number of types of state electronic services by 60, bringing them to 300, and the share of remote services – to at least 60 percent.
Second, the responsibility and accountability of government bodies in solving problems on the ground will be strengthened.
From the beginning of next year, each ministry must plan and organize its work in the context of the region, city, village and mahalla. The performance of ministers and their deputies will be assessed on the basis of what real changes have taken place on the ground.
Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers will be responsible for training managers and employees of their systems to work effectively on the basis of new requirements and modern information technologies, as well as for continuous improvement of their qualifications.
I urge deputies and senators to regularly monitor how problems are solved in their constituencies by the relevant ministries and hokimiyats.
Third, it is necessary to further improve the institutional foundations of executive and representative bodies at the local level, as well as mahallas.
Henceforth, the state of affairs in the mahalla will be the main criterion in evaluating the work of ministries, departments and hokimiyats.
It is also necessary to develop a program to increase the authority of the mahalla, increase its resources and capabilities, and boost the material security of its employees.
This year, we began to introduce the practice of directing at least 10 percent of the over-fulfilled part of regional budgets directly to solving problems in mahallas, in total 70 billion soums were allocated for this. Now this practice will expand: mahallas will also receive 5 percent of the expenditure side of the district budget. As a result, for example, in the Gijduvan district alone, 8 billion soums, and in the city of Ferghana, 11 billion soums will be directed to solving the problems that the population considers the most urgent.
Granting the chairpersons of the mahalla the right to include in the agenda of meetings of local Kengashes issues that must be considered will allow to achieve a prompt solution to problems.
A system will be created for the promotion of qualified and proactive personnel working in the mahalla to leading positions in state bodies.
The Legislative Chamber and the Senate, together with the Cabinet of Ministers, by April 1, 2021, architecture recommended to develop draft new laws aimed at radically improving the activities of executive bodies, local representative bodies and the institution of mahalla. These documents should clearly delineate the powers, tasks and functions of hokims, their deputies and advisers.
Fourth, intolerance towards any manifestation of corruption should become an integral part of our daily life.All government bodies, political parties, public organizations, mass media, every citizen must mobilize to fight this evil.
We need to instill in children from an early age the understanding that corruption is a very serious crime, foster intransigence towards it, teach honest work and honest business.
The Ministry of Finance is instructed, within three months, to establish the practice of publishing information on revenues and expenditures of off-budget funds of state bodies, purchases of organizations with state participation, as well as data on state subsidies and grants.
The Anti-Corruption Agency should submit, within a month, a proposal to expand the list of open data.
One of the most effective means of fighting corruption is the creation of an open system for the selection and recruitment of personnel. Therefore, instead of outdated selection methods, an open and transparent competitive system will be introduced, which will make it possible to assess the intellectual potential of candidates.
A system of regular training and assessment of the knowledge of civil servants in the field of corruption prevention will also be created.
Fifth, in order for every person in the country to experience the results of our reforms through the example of their own lives, it is necessary to ensure the timely and effective execution of the adopted documents.
From now on, communicating to the population, clarifying the essence of the adopted documents, assisting in their implementation and monitoring the execution will be the main task of the Ministry of Justice, its territorial offices, boards and divisions. For this, the Ministry of Justice is provided with the necessary powers and resources.
Also, broad public control over the implementation of the adopted documents will be established. In particular, it is planned to introduce a system of public hearings and public monitoring with the active involvement of civil society institutions, the media and citizens themselves in this process.
The Minister of Justice ought to introduce a system for communicating the essence and results of reforms to the population by organizing speeches and broadcasts in all mass media, including on television, preparation of television programs on the topic “Presidential Decisions: Execution and Oversight”.
Sixth, one of the priorities of our reforms is to further enhance the role of women in public administration.
It is our duty to do everything possible to create decent living conditions for over 17 million women living in the country – our daughters, mothers and grandmothers.
As a result of the reforms carried out to strengthen the role of women in public administration, today they make up 30 percent of deputies and senators in parliament. In the regional, city and district hokimiyats, the position of the hokim’s adviser on women’s issues was introduced.
As the next step in enhancing the role and status of women in society, creating new opportunities for them, I propose to form a Women’s Republican Public Council, which will include active and proactive women who have life experience and are well aware of women’s issues.
I think all of you will support me if I propose to head this council to the Chairwoman of the Senate Tanzila K. Narbayeva, who has extensive experience in this area.
More than 1 trillion soums will be additionally allocated from the budget to support women’s business projects and to solve the problems of women identified on the ground. To this end, the Khalq Bank will introduce a new system of training women in entrepreneurship, developing standard business plans for them and providing practical assistance in obtaining loans.
Oliy Majlis and the Government – within a month – are recommended to develop a proposal to create an integral system aimed at further strengthening the role of women in society and public administration.
Another important issue is the comprehensive support of the senior generation. This is our direct duty and obligation.
To provide assistance to the elderly on a permanent basis, the financial capabilities of the Nuroniy Republican Fund will be expanded. For these purposes, next year, the fund will be allocated 100 billion soums.
The volume of funds allocated for material assistance and the organization of meaningful leisure for more than 16 thousand veterans in need of outside care will increase, the range of social services provided to them will be expanded. In addition, more than 25 thousand veterans will be able to improve their health in new sanatoriums in Bukhara, Karshi and Urgench, as well as in existing medical and health improvement institutions.
Seventh, we will continue to support non-governmental non-profit organizations and the media in the development of a free civil society.
The activities of the Public Fund for Support of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations and Other Civil Society Institutions should be focused on solving urgent issues in the field.
In particular, non-governmental non-profit organizations will be widely involved, on the basis of a social order, in identifying existing problems at the local level, in deep analysis, in developing proposals for solving and ensuring public control over their implementation.
Such interaction should be widely introduced, first of all, in such areas as education, culture, medicine, ecology, construction, cadastral registration, transport, utilities, employment, and social services. Next year, 60 billion soums will be allocated from the budget to organize this work.
I also propose to create an institution of a permanent representative of non-governmental non-profit organizations in the Legislative Chamber.
I would like to draw your attention to the following important issue.
The media draw the attention of government departments and the public to pressing issues on the ground and encourage leaders at all levels to address them. From now on, every state body must establish a constant dialogue and cooperation with the media in its daily activities.
Dear deputies and senators!
In the New Year, we will continue our reforms aimed at ensuring the protection of human rights and freedoms, the rule of law.
Justice is a solid foundation of statehood. The judiciary plays a critical role in ensuring justice and the rule of law.From this point of view, we still have a lot of work in this direction.
First. The principle of ‘one court – one instance’, which is being introduced from the new year, should become the main criterion for securing justice, legality and stability of court decisions.
Duplicate courts will be abolished from next year. Supervisory review practice that does not meet the standards of justice will be abolished.
Another important question: starting from the new year, three categories of courts at the regional level – for civil, economic and criminal cases – will be combined into one court. This innovation will create convenience for the population and entrepreneurs.
Another important innovation is that for the proper protection of investors’ rights, a special judicial structure has been established in the Supreme Court to consider investment disputes and competition cases. The investor can now, at his discretion, directly appeal to the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute.
Second. Work will continue on the wider introduction of the principle of humanism into the penal system. In particular, based on international standards, 25 colonies-settlements will be phased out.
Henceforth, if the punishment imposed on a person sentenced to imprisonment for the first time is replaced by a milder one, he, instead of being assigned to a colony-settlement, will be sent under probation supervision. As a result of this relaxation, 6 thousand people currently serving sentences will be given the chance to live at home with their families under the supervision of mahalla.
At the same time, the powers to change sentences to lighter ones and to apply for parole are transferred from the penal institutions to newly created humanitarian commissions.
Third. It is necessary to radically revise in order to improve the system for the prevention of torture in the operational-search activity, the bodies of investigation and the execution of sentences. It is absolutely true that such cases, which still take place, cause serious indignation among citizens and harm the international reputation of our country.
The chambers of the Oliy Majlis and the National Center for Human Rights should, within two months, develop proposals to expand the powers of the Ombudsman in the field of torture prevention, as well as to strengthen public control in this area.
Fourth. Last year, a procedure was established for the direct granting of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan to those who came to our country before 1995. This made it possible for more than 50 thousand people to obtain citizenship.
How do you think if, in continuation of this work next year, we directly grant Uzbek citizenship to stateless persons who came to our country before 2005 and live here permanently? Thanks to this, another 20 thousand people will have the opportunity to become citizens of Uzbekistan.
From now on, a procedure for granting citizenship directly to stateless persons permanently residing in our country for 15 years will be introduced.
Dear meeting participants!
Next year, we will pay special attention to further consolidation of the country’s defense capability, in particular, increasing the power of our Armed Forces, professional and the physical potential of the army, social support for servicemen and women and their families, educating our youth in the spirit of patriotism.
New approaches will be introduced to ensure public safety and create a safe environment in each mahalla.
Continue reforms aimed at ensuring that law enforcement agencies actually become reliable defenders of the interests of our citizens and the peace of the population.
Natural disasters and man-made disasters that have occurred in the country in recent years, fires in the autumn-winter period and many other adverse events require further improvement of the existing protection system of territories from emergencies.
Many large facilities and high-rise buildings are being built in the country, which also requires the creation of a new effective fire safety system. It is necessary to radically strengthen the material and technical base and human resources of fire and rescue units.
In this regard, the Government is instructed to develop a draft law “On the State of Emergency” within two months and a program of measures to address the identified problems.
Distinguished Senators and Deputies!
When implementing the foreign policy of our country in 2021, the following tasks will be of priority importance for us.
First, the Foreign Policy Concept of the Republic of Uzbekistan will be refined, taking into account our open, pragmatic and constructive foreign policy, as well as our long-term strategic goals.
Second, we will pay special attention to cementing the centuries-old friendship, good-neighborly relations, strategic partnership and mutual trust with Central Asian states. This is the priority of our foreign policy.
The difficult conditions of the pandemic have once again demonstrated how much we need each other and are interconnected. For a comprehensive and consistent study of such positive processes, the International Institute of Central Asia was established this year in Tashkent.
Next year, Tashkent will host a high-level international conference on the interaction of our region with South Asia.
Along with this, the international conference on Central Asia at the crossroads of world civilizations is being held in the city of Khiva jointly with UNESCO.
Third, we will continue to expand the multidimensional and mutually advantageous relations with our main partners – Russia, China, USA, Turkey, Germany, France, Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and other states.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and his deputies, ambassadors of our country abroad should introduce a new, more effective system of work in this direction.
Fourth, we are firmly convinced that the long-awaited peace will come into the neighboring Afghanistan, and we will continue to provide all possible assistance in this noble cause.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Tashkent International Conference laid a solid foundation for advancing global efforts to resolve the Afghan crisis.
To date, we have taken the first practical steps to implement the project for the construction of the Trans-Afghan transport corridor, which will connect Central Asia with the Indian Ocean. Its implementation will serve to ensure stability and sustainable economic development throughout the region.
Fifth, the development of close cooperation with the UN and other prominent international and regional bodies will always be in the heart of our attention.
This year, Uzbekistan chaired for the first time in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and, despite the pandemic, more than 60 planned international events were successfully held, about 70 important documents were adopted.
Serious preparations have also begun for Uzbekistan’s presidency in Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2021-2022.
Sixth, we will consistently bolster our achievements in the field of human rights, freedom of speech and religion in cooperation with leading international organizations.
Next year, under the auspices of the United Nations, we will host an international forum on Human Rights Education, a World Youth Conference on Youth Rights and a regional conference on religious freedom.
Seventh, I propose to create the Vatandoshlar fund to support and strengthen ties with our compatriots living in many countries of the world.
Eighth, we will raise to a qualitatively new level the work on consolidating the atmosphere of interethnic harmony and tolerance in our society.
You may know that in accordance with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, July 30 is widely celebrated annually as the International Day of Friendship. I propose to define this date in Uzbekistan as the Day of Friendship of Peoples.
Ninth, we are seriously concerned about the deterioration of the environmental situation in the region and around the world.
Together with adjacent countries and the international community, we will resolutely continue our work to mitigate the consequences of the environmental disaster caused by the tragedy of the Aral Sea.
Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest plantations are being created on its dried-up bottom, and a huge amount of construction and improvement work is being carried out in the Aral region. All this inspires our people to make for new frontiers. In this regard, we will strengthen practical work within the framework of the UN Human Security Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region.
Dear compatriots!
According to the World Health Organization, the threat of a pandemic may persist for a long time. It is not yet known how long this trial will continue for humanity.
In today’s difficult situation, the main task should be the consistent continuation of the comprehensive reforms launched in the country, our confident steps towards building a new Uzbekistan.
In 2021, an important political event in the life of our country and people – presidential elections – will take place.
The Central Election Commission should pay particular attention to the organization of the elections at a high level on the basis of national legislation and universally recognized international democratic principles.
First of all, it is necessary to form systemic knowledge of electoral legislation and international standards among members of election commissions.
We will continue to work on the implementation into national legislation and practice the recommendations, acceptable to us, of international observers during the latest elections.
I am convinced that this important political campaign will demonstrate the steady growth of political and legal culture, the expansion of the worldview and the consolidation of the civic stance of voters, all our compatriots in the new Uzbekistan.
Dear friends!
Today, with kind intentions, we are setting ourselves very important objectives for 2021.We need to work with dedication, with greater dedication. Many life difficulties may still await us, and we must be ready for this.
I will take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate you, and in your person all our compatriots, with the coming new year, 2021.
Thank you for attention.
