Uzbekistan, a nation teeming with youth, is on a vigorous path to ensure its younger generation’s bright future. With about 60% of its population under the age of 30, the country faces unique opportunities and challenges. This demographic translates to over 18 million young people today, projected to reach 25 million by 2040. To address the needs and harness the potential of this significant segment, Uzbekistan has initiated a series of intensive reforms.
On February 21, a Presidential Decree approved the State Program for implementing the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy. This program, designated as the Year of Support for Youth and Business, sets out to tackle the challenges young people face while unlocking their potential.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has made it a priority to create favorable conditions for its youth, focusing on their rights and interests. The state has undertaken substantial efforts to provide quality education, meaningful employment, and opportunities for young people to showcase their talents. Over 100 legislative acts have been adopted and implemented swiftly to support this initiative.
The updated Constitution of Uzbekistan now includes specific articles safeguarding the rights and interests of the younger generation. This legal advancement lays the groundwork for further strengthening youth policies and enhancing practical efforts in this area.
A notable achievement is the establishment of a new vertical management system dedicated to youth. Youth leaders are active in all neighborhoods (mahallas), creating over 100 different opportunities for young people locally. The “Youth Notebook” system, for example, has provided assistance to over 1.1 million young individuals across 25 different areas, with a total value of 1.3 trillion UZS. This includes financial support for tens of thousands of students from low-income families, enabling them to cover their tuition fees.
The expansion of higher education is another significant milestone. The number of higher educational institutions has nearly tripled to 199, with enrollment increasing from 9% to 38%. This growth opens up vast opportunities for the youth to acquire modern knowledge and skills.
Moreover, 210 youth industrial and entrepreneurial zones have been established, resulting in 2,500 projects worth 4 trillion UZS. The number of young entrepreneurs has more than doubled, surpassing 200,000. The country has also recognized over 750 young individuals with state awards for their contributions to national prosperity.
Looking forward, the continuous effective implementation of state youth policy in Uzbekistan necessitates ongoing reforms to solidify the organizational, legal, and institutional framework. One of the primary focuses will be on embedding new constitutional norms regarding youth rights into existing legislation.
Efforts will also concentrate on executing the tasks outlined in the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy’s State Program. This approach involves every region, ministry, and department adopting new strategies for youth engagement. Enhancing scientific and analytical research on youth issues and training promising personnel are also deemed essential.
Rapid measures are being taken to expand language learning under the “Ibrat Farzandlari” project, aiming to reach 1 million young people. Similarly, the “Mutolaa” program aspires to increase the number of young readers to 1.5 million. Additional infrastructure is being developed to support these initiatives.
Furthermore, the creation of broader conditions for meaningful leisure activities and the development of young talents remains a priority. The systemic reforms in Uzbekistan have already led to notable achievements in education and the overall development of young people. The increase in educational institutions, improvement in education quality, and active youth participation in scientific, cultural, and social projects all highlight the positive changes underway.
These reforms are strengthening the foundation for the harmonious development of Uzbekistan’s younger generation, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute to the nation’s future.
Bekzod Jurabayev, Chief scientific researcher of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Policy under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists of the Institute.
