Mirziyoyev Criticizes Inefficient Anti-Poverty Credit Use

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev criticized the uneven effectiveness of state loan distribution across the country's regions, calling for enhanced financial management to accelerate poverty reduction. Speaking at a government meeting on 3 September 2026, the president noted that while 314 trillion soums have been directed to local business projects over the past three years, the poverty reduction impact varies significantly by district.

At the start of the year, Uzbekistan's national poverty rate stood at 5.8 percent, representing 2.2 million low-income individuals, a figure that has since decreased to 1.5 million. While 49 districts and 3,429 mahallas demonstrated effective implementation, performance across 159 districts and cities alongside 5,536 mahallas was deemed insufficient despite identical resource allocations.

Mirziyoyev highlighted regional disparities using comparative examples. Sharof Rashidov district and Karshi district both received 2.3 trillion soums in credit resources. Sharof Rashidov district lifted 30,000 individuals out of poverty at an average expenditure of 78 million soums per person, whereas Karshi district assisted 13,000 individuals at an average cost of 176 million soums per person.

Similarly, Kamashi district and Pskent district each received 1.1 trillion soums. Kamashi district transitioned 28,000 people out of poverty, compared to 4,500 people in Pskent district, where credit usage reached approximately 250 million soums per person. Mirziyoyev noted that such an amount could fund a permanent high-paying industrial job in other regions. Similar inefficiencies were cited in Guzar, Nishan, Mubarek, Yangikurgan, Taylak, Boysun, Altunsay, Bandikhan, Besharik, and Ferghana districts, as well as the cities of Nurafshan, Bekabad, and Yangiyul.

Business sustainability issues were also highlighted. Out of 86,000 small enterprises established in regions over the past year, 15,000—or 17 percent—have ceased operations. Additionally, 62,000 credit recipients are experiencing repayment difficulties due to unsuccessful business ventures.

The president attributed the low efficiency to limited local project management capabilities, stating that hokim assistants and local bankers in only about 1,000 mahallas possess structured project planning skills. He also noted insufficient coordination within local administrative teams and a reluctance among district-level officials to take independent operational decisions.