Uzbekistan: Third international forum "From Poverty to Prosperity"opens

The third international forum "From Poverty to Prosperity" has opened in Namangan, where a vision for further reducing poverty and expanding opportunities for the population is presented. The agenda focuses on translating targeted support into sustainable growth of household incomes, strengthening employment, and developing human capital through investment and technology. The President outlined structural results and new quantitative goals, linking them to the quality of institutions and the effectiveness of fiscal policy.

In eight years, measures have been implemented to lift 7.5 million people out of poverty; in 2024, the poverty rate will be reduced to 8.9 percent, with a target of 6 percent by the end of the year. The economy has doubled during the reform period, with an expected per capita income of $ 3,500 by the end of the year. These results are based on a change in the methodology for measuring poverty, the establishment of minimum guarantees in the Constitution, and the transition to targeted support at the level of mahallas with individual plans for households.

During the pandemic, the state funded a massive $ 8 billion aid package, preventing vulnerable groups from falling into the " poverty trap." At the same time, the infrastructure for long-term growth has been built: 2.5–3 billion US dollars are allocated annually for the improvement of mahallas and business infrastructure; cotton and grain crops have been reduced by 235 thousand hectares in rural areas and mechanisms for allocating land plots of 30-50 acres have been introduced, which has increased the incomes of 800 thousand people.

The investment track increases employment. In 2025, private and public investments worth 35 billion US dollars will create more than 9 thousand enterprises and about 300 thousand high-income jobs. The number of active entrepreneurs has reached 700 thousand, and the partnership between the state and business makes it possible to employ members of low-income families: this year alone, more than 270 thousand people received permanent jobs. The startup ecosystem is developing: since the beginning of the year, $ 270 million has been invested in projects (four times more than a year earlier); New programs are being launched in cooperation with international institutions, including a $ 100 million project with the World Bank.

Human capital is the core of the strategy. The increase in pre-school enrollment from 27% to 78% has given one million women the opportunity to get an education and a profession. It is planned to compensate 80 percent of the costs of foreign languages and vocational training for children from more than 100 thousand low-income families. Over 800 thousand citizens have been trained and employed in modern professions in five years; the next phase is the creation of international training centers with the recognition of certificates abroad.

Women's participation in the economy is increasing. Interest-free student loans, free master's degree programs, employment and entrepreneurship programs have led to the fact that 53% of students are girls, and in 2025 1.7 million women will get a job. As part of the "Girls of the Digital Generation" initiative, 50 thousand participants will be trained in the fields of IT, fintech and artificial intelligence. This year, US $ 1.5 billion has been allocated to support women's entrepreneurship, and in 2026 it is planned to expand coverage, including social insurance measures for 2.5 million women in the private sector.

Health care is integrated into the anti-poverty agenda: doctors are attached to 140,000 poor families, a full annual check-up is provided; the package of guaranteed services and free medicines is expanded, which reduces family expenses by half. Targeted social protection is consolidated through the National Agency: the Inson network of centers provides more than a hundred services on the principle of "one window", social workers work in each mahalla. In 2025, 2.7 million citizens received support, 150 thousand people with disabilities were employed, and inclusive education and vocational training programs are being developed.

The infrastructure block is aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty. Basic services are improving in a thousand mahallas with difficult conditions; this year, 470 thousand households are provided with water for household plots, and 790 thousand have improved energy supply. In 2026, water supply, sewerage, roads, schools and kindergartens in 810 mahallas are planned for the amount of US $ 1.3 billion; mortgage subsidies of US $ 200 million are provided annually for low-income families.

International cooperation remains a key driver. Projects on rural infrastructure, roads, medicine and education are being implemented, including a $ 5 billion package from Islamic financial institutions. Taking into account the global funding gap for the SDGs (more than 4 trillion US dollars), it is proposed to form a "new financial architecture for countering poverty" and hold a high-level conference in Khiva in 2026 with the participation of international development banks, donors and partners.

The presented agenda translates the transition from short-term support to sustainable income growth, relying on investment, education, employment and infrastructure. The goal is to completely eradicate poverty by 2030 in accordance with international criteria, while strengthening the institutional framework and transparency of social programs.