Mirziyoyev Outlines Seven Priorities for Uzbekistan’s Next Stage of Development

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined seven national programmes for the country’s next stage of development in a speech on 28 August at an event marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s state independence.

The ceremony was held in New Tashkent, where the buildings of New Uzbekistan University, the Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan and the National Library of Uzbekistan were commissioned the previous day. Mirziyoyev said New Tashkent should eventually become a centre of science, education and culture and demonstrate the country’s potential.

Summing up the transformations of recent years, Mirziyoyev said independence, gained in 1991, had enabled Uzbekistan to preserve and strengthen its national identity, language, religion and values. He also highlighted the country’s historical heritage associated with the First and Second Renaissance periods, as well as figures including Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Ahmad al-Ferghani, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugbek and Alisher Navoi, and the state of Amir Temur.

The president said the idea of “Inson qadri uchun”, or “For human dignity”, was at the centre of the reforms. Among the changes, he cited the elimination of “cotton slavery”, forced and child labour, restrictions on currency conversion and the residence registration system.

According to Mirziyoyev, annual foreign investment attracted to the economy has increased from US$2-3 billion to US$40-50 billion. He said a target had been set three years ago to raise GDP to US$160 billion by 2030, but that figure would be exceeded this year despite disruptions to global logistics and instability around the world. Uzbekistan, he said, should join the group of upper-middle-income countries.

Mirziyoyev also highlighted the reduction in poverty, saying its rate had fallen from 35% in 2017 to 4%. The country operates a “mahallabay” system focused on increasing the incomes of families in need, their employment, health, children’s education and housing conditions. According to the president, the changes have affected about 10 million people.

In education, Mirziyoyev reported an expansion of preschool and higher education. Despite the country’s population increasing by 8 million over 10 years, preschool education coverage has reached 78%. An additional 1.5 million places have been created in schools, while the number of university students has risen to 1.6 million.

Science, artificial intelligence, information technology and the creative economy should become key drivers of further development, the president said. A target has been set to involve 10 million young people in the digital industry and training for future professions. Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, Uzbekistan and Chinese partners launched the Samarkand-2028 satellite.

In healthcare, government funding has increased more than eightfold in recent years, according to the president. A total of 652 new medical facilities have been built, while the volume of medical services has tripled. More than 100 complex diagnostic and treatment methods that were previously available only abroad are now being used in Uzbekistan. Average life expectancy increased from 66.4 years in 1991 to 75.4 years in 2025, while infant and maternal mortality rates fell fourfold.

For the new stage of development, Mirziyoyev outlined seven national programmes.

The first programme will focus on making knowledge and professional skills the main capital for the country’s development. Coverage of six-year-old children by preparatory groups is planned to reach 100%, while technical colleges will be moved to international educational standards. The number of young people receiving training in high-income professions at these institutions is planned to reach 1 million. The government also aims to place at least 10 Uzbek universities among the world’s top 1,000 rankings.

The second programme will focus on further developing the healthcare system. Over the next five years, state spending on public health is planned to reach 5% of GDP. State health insurance should cover all households in the country, while at least five leading global clinics are to be attracted to specialised medicine.

The third programme is aimed at shifting the economy towards a model based on high technology and high labour productivity. Over the next decade, Uzbekistan plans to attract US$450 billion in foreign investment, raise GDP to US$300 billion by 2030 and create 2 million high-paying jobs in industry. Startups, venture financing and artificial intelligence were also identified as priorities. Under the plan, GDP per capita should exceed US$10,000.

The fourth programme will focus on water resources and the environment. Over the next five years, the government plans to bring the share of cultivated land covered by water-saving technologies to 100%. Green areas around schools, kindergartens, hospitals and multi-storey residential buildings will be protected as an inviolable public asset. The share of green areas in district and city centres is planned to increase to 30%.

The fifth programme will focus on strengthening the independence of the judiciary and further developing the rule of law. The country plans to strengthen legal education, guarantees of citizens’ and entrepreneurs’ rights, and measures against cybercrime, drug addiction, human trafficking, the shadow economy, organised crime and discrimination against the rights of women and children.

The sixth programme will focus on increasing the role of mahallas in society’s development. District budgets, investment programmes and infrastructure projects are planned to be developed based on needs identified by mahallas. Citizens’ demands and the well-being of mahallas should become the main criteria.

The seventh programme is aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan’s standing as a country of peace, friendship, interethnic harmony and tolerance. Mirziyoyev noted that representatives of more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups and followers of 16 religious denominations live in the country.

On foreign policy, Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan would continue pursuing an open, pragmatic and peaceful approach. The number of countries with which Uzbekistan has established diplomatic relations has approached 170. In 2027-2029, the country will chair the Non-Aligned Movement for the first time. The president also highlighted the further development of good-neighbourly relations and cooperation with Central Asian countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the European Union, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific region, the Arab and Muslim world, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Concluding his speech, Mirziyoyev said the next decade should become a period of national renewal for Uzbekistan. He said achieving the stated goals would depend on the intellectual potential, work and unity of the people. The president called on citizens to build the country’s new future together and congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of state independence.