At the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein of Jordan arrived in Uzbekistan today on a state visit.

According to the presidential press service, President Mirziyoyev personally welcomed the King at Samarkand International Airport, where the national flags of both countries were raised and an honor guard was lined up. The ceremony also featured performances of traditional songs and dances.

The main events of the visit are scheduled for tomorrow. On the first day, however, the two heads of state toured the ancient city of Samarkand, exploring its architectural treasures and cultural heritage.

The visit began at the Shakhi-Zinda complex, which includes the mausoleum of Qusam ibn Abbas, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, along with other historical figures. The site, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2001, reflects centuries of development in architecture and decorative arts. King Abdullah II, a member of the Hashemite dynasty that traces its lineage to the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib, paid tribute at the mausoleum of Qusam ibn Abbas, where verses from the Qur’an were recited.

The delegation then visited the mausoleum of Amir Temur. The guests were briefed on the state-building policies of the great military leader, his diplomatic ties with other countries, and his role in creating one of the most powerful empires of his time. The life and legacy of Sahibkiran left a strong impression on the Jordanian visitors.

The two leaders also toured the Registan complex, which includes the Ulugh Beg, Sherdor, and Tillya-Kori madrasahs. For centuries, Registan has attracted scholars and served as a center of learning, while its architectural symmetry and grandeur have earned it the reputation of Samarkand’s “calling card.” King Abdullah II was presented with information on the history of the site’s construction, its unique ornamental patterns, and the restoration work carried out on the square.

In 2024, the average monthly salary in Uzbekistan increased by 17.4% compared to the previous year, reaching 5.357 million UZS, with the highest average salary recorded in Tashkent at 9.1 million UZS, according to statistical data.

The regions that followed Tashkent in terms of average salaries are as follows:

• Navoi region – 6.7 million UZS;
• Tashkent region – 5 million UZS;
• Andijan region – 4.6 million UZS;
• Bukhara region – 4.3 million UZS.

The lowest average salary was recorded in the Kashkadarya region, where it amounted to 3.7 million UZS, which is almost 2.5 times less than in the capital.

Where was the highest salary growth recorded?

According to official data, from January to December 2024, the highest growth in the average nominal salary was observed in the following regions:

• Tashkent – an increase of 21.4%;
• Samarkand region – 17.6%;
• Syrdarya region – 16.7%;
• Namangan region – 16.5%;
• Fergana region – 15.1%.

The highest-paying sectors

By the end of 2024, the highest salaries – 15.6 million UZS – were received by workers in the fields of banking, insurance, leasing, lending, and brokerage activities.

The average salary levels in other sectors of the economy were as follows:

• Information and communication – 13.1 million UZS;
• Transportation and storage – 8.1 million UZS;
• Industry – 6.4 million UZS;
• Trade – 6.2 million UZS;
• Construction – 5.9 million UZS;
• Arts, entertainment, and recreation – 4.3 million UZS;
• Education – 3.6 million UZS;
• Healthcare and social services – 3.4 million UZS.

It is worth noting that despite the overall growth in salaries, there remains a significant disparity between regions and economic sectors, which calls for further measures to ensure a more balanced development of the labor market.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that in Uzbekistan, children from low-income families will now receive additional grants covering part of their tuition fees.

During the discussion, it was emphasized that education is the most effective way to reduce poverty. Therefore, special conditions will be created to ensure that at least one child from every low-income family has access to higher education.

A new system, the “Bright Talent” project, will be introduced to support talented and motivated young people who lack financial means due to difficult family circumstances. Under this initiative, socially vulnerable yet academically gifted youth will be identified in each neighborhood, and their potential will be assessed. They will then be matched with a suitable foreign university and enrolled in preparatory courses.

Graduates who complete their education abroad will be directly included in the National Talent Pool and placed in government institutions without requiring competitive selection. Every year, 1,000 young individuals who pass the selection process will be sent to the world’s top 100 universities, with all tuition and living expenses fully covered.

Currently, more than 1,500 Uzbek students are studying at top global universities. President Mirziyoyev described this as an unprecedented milestone in Uzbekistan’s history. Additionally, returning graduates will receive comprehensive support to build successful careers in their homeland.

In a dialogue with Uzbekistan’s youth, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined new initiatives to expand opportunities, support entrepreneurship in creative industries, and enhance youth engagement nationwide. As part of these efforts, Creative Parks will be established across all regions, where residents will pay a fixed turnover tax regardless of sales revenue.

The president announced the expansion of opportunities for young citizens in the service sector. Until 2028, entrepreneurs will pay a social tax at a rate of 1%, provided that their monthly salary is at least 3 million UZS.

The need to transform the “Youth Register” system was noted. An inventory of social support packages provided for young people has been ordered, followed by proposals for their optimization and increased effectiveness.

The head of state also addressed the development of creative industries, pointing out that young people make up 98% of those employed in this sector. Last October, a law was passed on the development of the creative economy.

A model “Creative Park” was established at the Youth Creativity Palace in Tashkent. The goal is to create similar facilities in other regions and provide them with the necessary infrastructure and resources.

Until the end of 2030, residents of Creative Parks will benefit from a preferential tax regime. This includes a 50% reduction in personal income tax and social tax, as well as the payment of turnover tax regardless of product sales volumes.

Business schools will operate in Creative Parks to train entrepreneurs in creative industries. Young people will be able to learn about modern business methods, as well as innovative approaches to e-commerce and other services.

Mirziyoyev called the creation of national content for the younger generation a priority task. The importance of promoting this content through inclusion in school and kindergarten curricula was emphasized.

Earlier, it was reported that $50 million is planned to be allocated for startups in creative industries.

Today, the president unveiled three pivotal documents aimed at launching a new era of youth entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan. These initiatives are designed to tackle youth unemployment and foster innovation, creating greater opportunities for young people across the country.

The first document establishes a Youth Entrepreneurship Development Fund under the Youth Agency, with $100 million allocated for its operations. This will enable young entrepreneurs to receive preferential loans of up to 2.5 billion UZS, and proactive youth will be able to secure up to 2 billion UZS in investments for their startup projects.

Currently, 90,000 university graduates are struggling to find jobs related to their fields of study. To address this, the second decree introduces a new system aimed at improving the employment of university graduates. The National Bank will receive $100 million to support this initiative.

In partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the bank will offer new financial services to help convert the ideas and initiatives of university graduates into viable projects. Furthermore, a commission made up of local authorities, banks, and business leaders will be created to facilitate the placement of youth into job openings and address staffing needs.

The third decree focuses on transforming Aloqabank into a “youth bank” designed to support youth business projects, with $200 million allocated for this purpose. The bank will offer microloans of up to 100 million UZS with a 7-year repayment period to self-employed youth.

Additionally, individual entrepreneurs who hire at least 20 young people, open small businesses, or establish training centers will be eligible for preferential loans of up to 5 billion UZS over a 7-year period. At least 30% of these loans will be directed to support female entrepreneurs.

Youth business incubators will be set up in various regions, where youth ideas will be nurtured and developed into startups. These projects will receive support for 6 months to 3 years, helping them evolve into fully operational businesses.

The “Aloqa Venture” fund will invest between $50,000 and $1 million in startups, facilitating the sale of products and services in both domestic and international markets and assisting in the search for business partners and additional investment.

In 2025, efforts to combat youth unemployment in Uzbekistan will enter a new stage. Leaders have been reminded of the potential negative consequences of youth unemployment, including the risk of young people falling into illicit activities, religious extremism, or crime. The situation in Yunusabad, Asaka, Sharof Rashidov, Chirakchi, Pastdargom districts, and the cities of Almalyk and Bukhara has been identified as particularly unsatisfactory.

To equip youth with vocational skills and language proficiency and place them in high-paying jobs, a large employment program has been launched for this year, with a total of 126 trillion UZS allocated. The program will fund 378,000 micro-projects in local communities, enabling 250,000 people to earn a steady income through new credit products from local banks.

To prepare youth for making strategic decisions in technological fields, 8 advanced engineering schools have already started operations at technical universities, with 17 more schools expected to open this year.

Last year, 56,000 hectares of land were allocated to young people, leading to the employment of 153,000 youth in agriculture. This year, 3,300 hectares of unused land in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Andijan, Jizzakh, Fergana, and Tashkent regions will be leased under new conditions. Young people who cultivate products on previously allocated land and earn at least 100 million UZS will be eligible for land under these revised terms.

Youth cooperatives will be established to enhance knowledge and skills in agriculture, while young entrepreneurs opening businesses in industrial zones will be eligible for loans of up to $500,000 for purchasing equipment.

Opportunities for youth in the service sector will also be expanded. Entrepreneurs who hire young employees and pay them at least 3 million UZS per month will be subject to a reduced 1% social tax for a 3-year period, benefiting both businesses and youth employees.

The “Youth Register” system is also due for an update and transformation. Authorities have been tasked with reviewing and streamlining all social packages available for youth, improving their efficiency and outcomes.

Creative industries are rapidly growing in the country, with 98% of those involved being young people. Last year, a law was passed to establish the legal foundations for the development of creative industries.

A model “Creative Park” has been established at the Youth Creativity Palace in Tashkent, with plans to build similar parks in regions. These parks will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure and resources. Residents of these parks will benefit from a preferential tax regime until 2030, with a 50% reduction in social and income tax rates. They will also be subject to turnover tax, regardless of their sales volume.

Business schools will be set up within these parks to train representatives of the creative industry. These schools will provide education on innovative business practices, including electronic commerce and modern service delivery.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during his meeting with the youth at the Kuksaroy residence, emphasized that mastering foreign languages, alongside one’s native language, is crucial for global success, particularly in business, where it holds unmatched value.

The government will provide up to 120 million UZS in interest-free loans to young people who open language centers to promote foreign language learning. Additionally, tuition fees for youth studying foreign languages will be covered through a “2+6” model, where students pay for the first two months, and the government covers the remaining six months.

This year, the goal is to reach $1 billion in IT exports, with a strong emphasis on increasing youth participation. The “One Million Programmers” initiative aims to involve an additional 300,000 young people. Furthermore, Uzbek language courses on platforms like Coursera will be expanded, including those focused on artificial intelligence.

The “Muhammad Khwarezmi Successors” project will expand in Karakalpakstan, reaching 1,000 more youth. A partnership with the UAE will introduce the “One Million Artificial Intelligence Users” project, while the Ministry of Digital Technologies will begin its implementation.

In 2024, 25,000 girls were trained in IT, with plans to double this number. Another initiative, “Bright Talent,” will support talented but economically disadvantaged youth to study abroad, with their tuition fully covered.

Government programs will also provide interest-free education loans and grants to students from low-income families. 1,000 talented students will be sent to top 100 universities globally each year, with their living and educational costs covered.

Additionally, a new initiative will provide 10-year interest-free loans for young scientists under 35, up to 800 million UZS for housing. The number of grants for young scholars pursuing degrees at prestigious universities will be increased.

A national strategy to strengthen the role of education in reducing poverty was also highlighted, with a focus on teaching discipline and ethical use of the internet, preventing misinformation and harmful ideologies.

Youth development programs will be closely integrated into the legislative process, with local councils incorporating youth representatives in policy discussions. The President also emphasized that the involvement of young people in shaping the nation’s future is crucial for its continued development.