Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the end of 2020, in order to mitigate the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP, together with the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MZTO), launched a program to support small business initiatives and self-employment. vulnerable populations, including women and youth.

This program is aimed at improving the skills of the population in doing business, as well as providing technical assistance in the form of equipment to carry out their business projects. The initiative is being implemented within the framework of a joint project of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Program "Promotion of Youth Employment in Uzbekistan".

On 18 May, in Navoi, a ceremony was held to transfer equipment to representatives of small and medium-sized businesses to launch new and expand existing business projects. It is worth noting that the participants of this initiative were selected on a competitive basis on such criteria as the number of new jobs created for women and youth, the possibilities and potential for dissemination and replication of the project in the future, the potential for ensuring social impact on improving professional skills, employment opportunities and expanding sources. income for women and youth, as well as other criteria.

The event was attended by the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations, the Khokim of the region, the Head of the Main Employment Department of the MZTO, representatives of the territorial departments of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family and the Yoshlar-kelajagimiz Foundation, as well as entrepreneurs receiving equipment.

37 units of production equipment and special equipment were donated to entrepreneurs on a gratuitous basis. As a result of the implementation of these entrepreneurial initiatives in the Navoi region, 24 new jobs for women and youth will be additionally created, and 21 women and youth representatives will have the opportunity to study modern professions and develop entrepreneurship skills.

Activities of the selected entrepreneurship projects:

- Creation of a training center for teaching computer graphics, programming languages and work as a freelancer;

- Production of baby products, pillows, bed linen and blankets for pregnant women;

- Organization of a delivery service for an online trading platform from cafes and restaurants, grocery stores and pharmacies;

- Creation of a sewing workshop for the production of workwear, bed linen, curtains and training women in the art of sewing; 

- Organization of geodetic and topographic works for housing and road construction, water, gas industry and other industries.