Mirziyoyev Calls Next Decade Period of National Renewal

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at a ceremonial event marking the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The head of state warmly congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the holiday. He noted that holding the country's main national celebration in New Tashkent lends the occasion a special atmosphere.

In this area, which will in future become a center of science, education, and culture, the magnificent buildings of New Uzbekistan University, the Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan, and the National Library of Uzbekistan were put into operation the day before.

It was also noted that the fountain to be unveiled before those attending the celebration has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest musical fountain in the world, lending the festive atmosphere even greater grandeur.

"In this unique place, where dreams centuries old are being brought to life, together with our entire people we will witness many more joyful and historic events.

I am confident that New Tashkent, adding to the beauty of our capital, will become a genuine center of development demonstrating the strength and potential of the New Uzbekistan we are building," the President said.

The head of state noted that in 1991, thanks to the will and firm determination of our people, state independence was achieved.

The roots of our great independence stretch back more than three thousand years into the history of statehood and the ancient civilization of our people.

It was noted that during the First and Second Renaissances, great scholars and thinkers such as Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Ahmad al-Farghani, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Mir Alisher Navoi made significant contributions to the treasury of human thought.

It was also emphasized that the state founded by our great ancestor, Sahibqiran Amir Temur, took its rightful place in history as a symbol of justice and creation.

"The dreams and aspirations of our Jadid forefathers — Mahmudxo'ja Behbudiy, Munavvarqori, Fitrat, Abdulla Qodiriy, Cho'lpon, and others who gave their lives for the freedom of their homeland and national independence — are being fully realized today in the New Uzbekistan.

Independence restored our honor and dignity, our sacred religion, our native language, and our national values, which had stood on the brink of being forgotten. Thanks to independence, we came to recognize our identity and showed the whole world that we are worthy heirs of our great ancestors," the head of state said.

Tribute was paid to the memory of great ancestors and Jadids who gave their lives for the free life we lead today.

The selfless labor and heroism of all our compatriots who are no longer with us, and who over the past 35 years made a worthy contribution to strengthening the country's independence, were commemorated.

Deep respect was paid to the memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the outstanding statesman and political figure Islam Abduganievich Karimov.

The President emphasized that the great significance of independence is expressed above all in respect for human dignity and the opportunity to live a free life. From the very first days of reform, the main goal was defined as heeding the aspirations of the people and solving the problems of the population.

The idea of "Inson qadri uchun" ("For the sake of human dignity") was placed at the center of state policy. First and foremost, problems that had caused people serious hardship for years were eliminated — forced cotton labor, forced and child labor, restrictions on currency conversion, and the propiska (residence permit) system.

"Most importantly, fear and anxiety in the hearts of our citizens have given way to trust and calm. In order to build a society in which every person can live freely and with dignity, over the following decade we tirelessly sought solutions and worked hard," said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

With strong political will, Uzbekistan opened itself widely to the world. Border issues were resolved, and friendship and cooperation with neighboring states were strengthened.

Fundamental reforms were carried out in currency, tax, customs, and investment policy.

As a result, the country's position in the Index of Economic Freedom improved by 80 places, and Uzbekistan joined the ranks of countries with a "moderately free" economy.

Whereas the country previously attracted $2–3 billion in foreign investment annually, today that figure stands at $40–50 billion. Along with investment come advanced technologies, modern knowledge, and new economic opportunities.

Three years ago, the goal was set to bring gross domestic product to $160 billion by 2030. Despite disruptions in global logistics and an unstable international situation, this milestone will be exceeded already this year, and Uzbekistan will join the ranks of upper-middle-income countries.

"We are achieving such high results thanks to the selfless labor of our people, their intellectual potential, and the unity of the nation and the state. Every person and every family deeply feels these positive changes in their daily life," the President noted.

"At this new stage of development, can words even describe the joy of more than 650,000 families who have received modern housing?" the head of state said.

It was noted that the look of the New Uzbekistan is reaching thousands of mahallas across the country.

The issue of poverty was openly acknowledged, and Uzbekistan developed its own experience in substantially reducing it.

The "mahallabay" system of work was introduced, aimed at raising the incomes of families in need, ensuring their employment, improving their health, and improving conditions for their children's education and housing.

Thanks to consistent measures, the poverty rate was reduced from 35 percent in 2017 to 4 percent.

It was noted that behind these figures lies the joy and gratitude of 10 million people whose families have achieved prosperity and whose quality of life has improved.

The President emphasized that in order to take a worthy place in the international community, the country needs a new generation of specialists — educated, well-versed in the professions of the future, and capable of independent thinking.

That is why quality changes and new content are being introduced into the education system, the authority of teachers is being restored, and their income levels are being consistently raised.

Even as the country's population grew by 8 million people over the past decade, preschool enrollment was brought up to 78 percent. An additional 1.5 million school places were created.

The President noted that the creation of schools for gifted children, as well as creative and specialized schools, has enabled our children to gain in-depth knowledge on a par with leading foreign educational institutions. Worthy conditions have also been created for young people to study foreign languages and master professions.

Thanks to expanded opportunities for comfortable higher education, the number of students has reached 1.6 million. Young people's desire for knowledge has grown stronger, and for parents, giving their child a higher education has become not merely a dream but an achievable goal.

"The fact that women make up more than half of all students is a distinctive feature of the Third Renaissance. Educated girls mean an educated family, an educated generation, and an enlightened society," the head of state said.

Alongside education, science, modern technology, and innovation were identified as decisive factors in the country's development.

New momentum has been given to the development of information technology, artificial intelligence, and the creative economy. The goal has been set to involve 10 million young people in the digital industry and in mastering the professions of the future.

It was noted with particular pride that, on the eve of the Independence Day celebration, the "Samarkand–2028" satellite was launched into space jointly with Chinese partners.

"My intention is for Uzbekistan to become a hub offering the world advanced initiatives in the technological sphere. The Uzbek language must become a language in which science and technology are created in the digital world," the head of state noted.

Speaking about the value of the individual, the President stressed the need to pay special attention to public health. In recent years, funding allocated to this sphere has increased more than eightfold, and opportunities to receive quality medical care have been created both in the capital and in the regions.

Over the past period, 652 new medical facilities have been built in our country, and broad opportunities for development have been created for the private sector. As a result, the volume of medical services has tripled.

The training of highly qualified doctors has been established, with worthy working conditions created for them. More than 100 complex diagnostic and treatment methods that were previously available only abroad are now successfully applied in our country as well.

"The fact that average life expectancy has risen from 66.4 years in 1991 to 75.4 years in 2025, and that infant and maternal mortality rates have fallen fourfold, is a crucial result of the reforms we have carried out in this sphere," the President noted.

The head of state emphasized that our homeland has since ancient times been a land of great thinkers, saints, and outstanding scholars.

In keeping with this priceless heritage, unique scientific and educational centers have been created, such as the Center for Islamic Civilization and the memorial complexes of Imam Bukhari and Burhaniddin Marghinani.

These magnificent and sacred sites deserve recognition not only in our country and the Islamic world, but throughout the world. This creative work will be actively continued.

"Our greatest wealth is the youth of the New Uzbekistan, who are the decisive force of our tomorrow," the head of state said.

To support driven and hardworking young men and women, 20–25 trillion soums are allocated annually. Today, young entrepreneurs make up 35 percent of business representatives in our country.

It was noted that the historic achievements of young Uzbek athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo and Paris, as well as at world sporting arenas, evoke a great sense of pride among our people.

Our footballers took part in a World Cup for the first time, opening a new page in the history of Uzbek sport. The President expressed confidence that the path they have begun will be continued and will lead to new victories.

In the coming days, the World Chess Olympiad will begin in Samarkand, and in November grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov will compete for the world chess crown. The President wished our young chess players great success and victories.

"I consider you the stars of the New Uzbekistan, the builders of the future! Never stop striving forward and constantly developing, my dear children!" the head of state said, addressing the youth.

The President noted that today our country has entered an even more critical and decisive period of its history and is taking a step into an entirely new era of development.

"The next decade will be a period of national resurgence for us," the head of state said.

It was noted that this new era can only be created through the intellectual potential, labor, and unity of our people.

To this end, seven national programs aimed at further enhancing the value and dignity of the individual will be implemented in the coming years.

The first national program is aimed at turning knowledge and professional skills into the principal capital for the country's further development.

Enrollment of six-year-old children in preparatory groups will be brought to 100 percent in the shortest possible time. Existing benefits for opening private preschool institutions will be preserved.

All schools will be fully covered by international education quality assessment programs.

International educational standards will be introduced in the country's technical colleges.

Young people will be trained there in high-income professions, with enrollment planned to reach 1 million people.

"In short, in the New Uzbekistan there will not be a single young man or woman without a profession," the President said.

An important long-term goal has been set to bring at least 10 Uzbek universities into the top 1,000 of world rankings.

The second national program will be aimed at ensuring the health and longevity of our people.

Over the next five years, state spending related to public health protection will be brought up to 5 percent of GDP.

Medicine will shift toward a model of preserving health through strengthened prevention.

State medical insurance will cover all households in the country.

To strengthen the competitive environment in specialized medicine, at least five of the world's most reputable clinics will be brought to Uzbekistan.

Our country will become a center for the development of modern medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical education.

"The third national program is the transition of our economy to a model based on high technology and high labor productivity," the head of state said.

To this end, $450 billion in foreign investment will be attracted over the next decade.

With high economic growth rates maintained, GDP will be brought up to $300 billion by 2030. Two million high-paying jobs will be created in industry.

The development of startups, venture financing, and artificial intelligence will become a priority area for the full realization of young people's potential.

A comprehensive ecosystem will be created to allow small businesses to grow into medium-sized ones, and medium-sized enterprises to become large companies and corporations.

"Thanks to this, over the next decade GDP per capita will exceed the $10,000 mark," the President said.

It was noted that amid global climate change, issues of water resources and ecology are becoming increasingly urgent.

The fourth national program will be aimed at fundamentally changing attitudes toward water and nature.

Over the next five years, the coverage of cultivated land with water-saving technologies will be brought to 100 percent.

"Attitudes toward nature are an indicator of a people's culture, a state's responsibility, and the quality of development. We will bring the nationwide 'Yashil makon' ('Green Space') movement to a new qualitative level," the President said.

Green zones around schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and apartment buildings will be protected as an inviolable public asset.

In the coming years, the share of green areas in district and city centers is planned to be brought up to 30 percent.

"Wherever justice prevails, both economic dynamism and public trust grow," the head of state said.

The fifth national program is aimed at strengthening the independence of the judicial system and turning the rule of law into a shared value.

Legal education will be systematically organized starting from school.

Reforms to strengthen the legal guarantees of citizens and entrepreneurs will be consistently continued.

Measures to prevent cybercrime, drug addiction, and human trafficking will be strengthened.

The fight against the shadow economy and organized crime, as well as against discrimination against the rights of women and children, will reach a new level.

The President noted that people's mood, family well-being, the dreams and aspirations of young people, and the initiative of entrepreneurs are expressed above all at the level of the mahalla.

The sixth national program will be aimed at making the mahalla the main driver of society's development.

"From now on, the approach to developing state programs will change completely," the head of state said.

District budgets, investment programs, and infrastructure projects will be formed based on needs identified by the mahallas themselves.

The needs and requests of citizens, as well as the well-being of the mahalla, will be defined as the main criteria.

The seventh national program will be aimed at comprehensively strengthening Uzbekistan's standing as a country of peace and friendship, a land of interethnic harmony and tolerance.

It was noted that representatives of more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups, as well as followers of 16 religious faiths, live in our country in peace and harmony, like members of one family.

"In these turbulent times, interethnic harmony and religious tolerance are the golden treasury and priceless asset of our people," the President said.

Uzbekistan's open, pragmatic, and peace-loving policy is aimed at ensuring the country's long-term development.

Historic successes have been achieved in expanding good-neighborly relations, strategic partnership, and friendship in Central Asia.

Relations have been strengthened with the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the European Union, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Arab-Muslim world.

New areas of cooperation have been opened with the states of Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The number of states that have established diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan has approached 170.

"We will continue a multifaceted, well-considered, and balanced foreign policy in order to turn Uzbekistan into an important center of international diplomacy," the head of state said.

Economic diplomacy will remain one of the priority areas of the country's foreign policy.

In 2027–2029, Uzbekistan will chair the Non-Aligned Movement for the first time.

Initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of this global organization, which unites more than 120 countries of the world, will be actively promoted.

A constructive policy toward neighboring Afghanistan will be consistently continued.

The President expressed gratitude to representatives of the diplomatic corps, staff of foreign media outlets, and high-ranking guests from the United States, Turkey, and Singapore who attended the ceremonial event, for their fruitful cooperation.

The head of state emphasized that he wished to say one thing to his people with confidence.

"Today we are stronger than yesterday. God willing, tomorrow we will be even stronger!

Thirty-five years of independent development have taught us one truth: when a people and a state unite around a common goal and act with full dedication, there is no summit that cannot be conquered," the head of state said.

It was emphasized that there is no force capable of defeating a people and a state possessing such great potential.

A call was made for our united homeland and united people to build a new life and a great future together.

The President expressed confidence that our steadfast, courageous, and noble people will certainly achieve the great goals they have set for themselves.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded his speech with the following wishes:

"Together, we will certainly create a golden age for our homeland, its new great history!

May the Almighty, who granted us the priceless gift of independence, be exalted beyond measure, and for this let us offer Him our endless gratitude!

Glory to our people — the creators and true builders of independence!

Once again, I congratulate you, and through you our entire nation, on this great holiday — the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

May peace reign in our country, and may our homes be prosperous and well-appointed!

Long live the Republic of Uzbekistan!

Long live the people of Uzbekistan!"