Photo: Press service of the president of Uzbekistan
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev cited an International Monetary Fund forecast that this year the country’s economy will surpass $130 billion. As he emphasized, Uzbekistan has never before seen such growth rates or such high expert assessments. The president made this statement during an awards ceremony honoring representatives of various fields on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the nation’s independence, according to his press service.
The head of state highlighted the results of ongoing reforms. Over the past eight years, GDP has grown steadily, now reaching $15 billion. These results, he noted, became possible thanks to strong support for entrepreneurship, the construction of modern industrial complexes, a shift toward a “green” and innovative economy, development of renewable energy, the IT sector, tourism, and financial services.
The construction sector is also expanding. Over the past eight years, more than 500,000 apartments have been built, four times more than in the first 25 years of independence. Around 60 trillion soums (about $5 billion) have been allocated for improving mahallas (communities), villages, and roads. Private companies are now active in construction, with more than 30,000 firms operating in the sector. Production of building materials is nearing $6 billion, and last year alone construction work amounted to $23 billion — four times more than in 2016. “Uzbekistan has become a vast construction site,” Mirziyoyev remarked.
He noted that more than 100,000 projects have been implemented with investments totaling $155 billion, providing over 7 million people with a source of income.
“These enormous historic achievements are the result of large-scale and well-thought-out reforms, and, most importantly, of the change in mindset and worldview of our people. Whatever the sphere, each success serves above all to elevate human dignity and ensure people’s rights and interests,” the president stressed.
Turning to social issues, Mirziyoyev said that far more funds are now being allocated than in the past. Over the past eight years, the number of preschool places increased from 720,000 to 2.5 million. A total of 466 new schools were built, adding nearly 1 million student seats. The number of university students rose from 279,000 to 1.5 million, with higher education coverage reaching 60 percent.
Reflecting on economic achievements, the president recalled that only a decade ago Uzbekistan mainly exported raw materials. Today, industrial exports have grown from $28 billion in 2016 to $62 billion.
He also emphasized that business leaders have become a true pillar of the economy, with major progress in construction, agriculture, textiles, electrical engineering, machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
The service sector has grown as well. Tourism exports, once below $500 million, now exceed $3 billion. IT exports have reached $1 billion, supported by new expertise and technologies that are creating thousands of jobs and training a new generation of highly skilled professionals.
“The highest goal of our independence is care for people — elevating their dignity and work, and improving the lives of our noble nation,” Mirziyoyev concluded.
