Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said security is one of the factors determining regional investment attractiveness and business confidence. At a meeting on 11 September, he instructed law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to combat crime.
According to the president, economic measures alone will not be sufficient if authorities are unable to ensure order and security.
“As long as we do not curb crime, our work will not yield results and entrepreneurs will not come. Remember this,” Mirziyoyev said.
The president noted that investors consider not only economic opportunities but also the level of security in specific regions when making decisions.
“Every entrepreneur and every company knows the map of Uzbekistan, but they also consider whether crime has been contained there,” he said, addressing law enforcement officials.
Mirziyoyev separately instructed Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulatov to set an example in this work and stressed that ensuring security should not be viewed as a temporary task.
The president also called on law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to preserve public peace.
“We should be grateful for peace. But for our people to live peacefully, we must work twice as hard. People should feel free and safe at home, without fearing anything or anyone,” Mirziyoyev said.
Mirziyoyev also warned that influential and wealthy people must not be allowed to act with impunity.
“If some arrogant rich man appears, I will forgive no one. Everyone must know this. There must be a state. Then we will have unity and harmony, and people will trust us,” the president said.
The meeting was also attended by Akmalhuzha Mavlonov, head of the Customs Committee; Azizbek Ikramov, minister of emergency situations; Bahodir Tashmatov, commander of the National Guard; and Bahodir Kurbanov, chairman of the State Security Service.
Earlier, at the end of December, Mirziyoyev spoke about attempts by criminal groups to place themselves above the law and exert pressure on businesses.
He said athletes were also being involved in such activities. The president said the state had sufficient capabilities to stop the activities of such groups and called on parliament to tighten legislation.
