Akfa Group offers jobs to 10,000 Uzbeks abroad

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Akfa Group is ready to employ 10,000 Uzbek citizens currently living abroad and has proposed creating a platform to help them find jobs in Uzbekistan and other countries.

Akfa Group founder Jahongir Artykhodjaev made the proposal on 18 August during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s sixth open dialogue with entrepreneurs in Khiva.

Before making the proposal, Artykhodjaev referred to the tragedy in Tatarstan, where eight Uzbek citizens were killed on 10 August in a drone attack on Nizhnekamsk. He said the president was concerned about the incident and that entrepreneurs considered it their duty to support the head of state.

Artykhodjaev proposed launching a dedicated call center from 18 August to help citizens who want to return from Russia and continue working in Uzbekistan.

“We, the Akfa holding company, are ready to provide jobs for 10,000 of our compatriots living abroad,” Artykhodjaev said.

The entrepreneur also called on other businesses to join the initiative. According to him, Uzbekistan has about 600,000 entrepreneurs. If each of them hired at least two citizens returning from abroad, more than 1 million people could find jobs in the country.

Jobs proposed through foreign projects

Artykhodjaev also proposed using overseas projects to create employment opportunities for Uzbek citizens.

He said construction company Discover Invest had established a joint venture with a major U.S. construction company.

According to Artykhodjaev, the partners are currently negotiating EPC contracts for the construction of a major petrochemical complex in Mexico and a mining and processing plant in Saudi Arabia.

“If you allow us, we will send thousands of our citizens who wish to work in Mexico and Saudi Arabia,” the entrepreneur said.

Another project that could create employment opportunities for Uzbek citizens is being developed in Albania. Construction of a major tourism complex is beginning there, and the company is negotiating participation in the project.

Mirziyoyev backs employment platform

The president supported the initiative and instructed Artykhodjaev to create a platform for the employment of Uzbek citizens in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and other countries. He also ordered that a relevant proposal be submitted within 10 days.

“As for your words about my concern over the situation in Tatarstan — we cannot speak in grand words; we must act,” Mirziyoyev said.

The president proposed involving Uzbekistan’s ambassadors in the initiative, particularly the diplomatic mission in Russia, where the largest number of Uzbek citizens are located.

According to Mirziyoyev, compatriots should be informed that conditions have been created in Uzbekistan for their return and employment.

The president also said entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan have a significant number of vacancies and plans to create additional jobs.

“If major entrepreneurs create such a platform and submit their proposals within 10–15 days, this will be a timely solution,” Mirziyoyev said.