Participants of the II International Forum on Poverty Reduction

Dear Forum members!

Ladies and gentlemen!

I sincerely welcome you to the International Forum on Poverty Reduction, which is taking place on the beautiful land of Uzbekistan for the second time, and I express my deep respect to all of you.

We are all well aware that in these troubled times, poverty reduction is one of our most important tasks. Today, more than ever, the joint search for its solutions based on best practices and new approaches, as well as their consistent implementation, is becoming urgent.

We have every reason to say that this forum, held on the initiative of Uzbekistan, put forward at the United Nations General Assembly, has become an effective international dialogue platform for developing new ideas and practical measures aimed at reducing poverty. It has further enriched the large-scale reforms initiated in the country for these purposes, and today makes a worthy contribution to significant positive changes.

As a vivid example, it should be particularly noted that over the past year the poverty level in our country has decreased from 17 to 14 percent, 1 million citizens have been removed from poverty.

In achieving such results, a decisive factor is the systematic and well-thought-out policy aimed at educating the population in modern professions, creating decent jobs, and comprehensive support for entrepreneurship.

By expanding the scale of social services in the mahallas of the country, more than 2 million 300 thousand needy families, women, single elderly and persons with disabilities are fully covered by the social protection system.

In the new version of the Constitution, adopted recently for the first time in the history of our country by a national referendum, Uzbekistan is proclaimed a social state, the constitutional obligations of the state to further ensure the protection of human honor and dignity, social support of the population are separately enshrined.

We will raise large–scale work in the field of poverty reduction to a new level and steadily continue reforms in all directions, based on the principle of “man - society – state".

First of all, the creation of the most favorable conditions for the private sector and entrepreneurship, which are the “driver” in creating new jobs and increasing incomes of the population, their widespread support will constantly be in the focus of our attention. In particular, active entrepreneurs who initiated the training and employment of unemployed citizens will be provided with a package of additional benefits under the “social contract" system.

Secondly, we will accelerate the implementation of targeted support programs for poor families within the framework of the “social register” system using an individual approach.

Thirdly, in order to fully implement the social obligations of the state, more than a hundred social services will be provided in mahallas to persons with disabilities, women, representatives of the older generation, categories of citizens in need of special attention.

Fourth, to improve the infrastructure of mahallas, the amount of funds allocated through the “open budget” system for projects chosen by the population itself will be dramatically increased.

Fifthly, in order to develop human capital, we will further expand our work to ensure the rights of everyone to access quality education and medical services.  

Dear Forum members!

More than 100 well-known experts from reputable international organizations and partner states have arrived at today's event, which clearly demonstrates the great interest and attention to this issue.

Of course, Uzbekistan is interested in continuing close cooperation with the world community in achieving the high goals set for poverty reduction.

I am convinced that the new approaches and effective solutions developed within the framework of the forum will definitely be implemented.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you all good health, strength and energy in your noble and responsible activities and great success in the work of the forum.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan