President: about 62% of able-bodied women work in various sectors of economy

Uzbek leader said that Uzbekistan has always paid high attention to raising role and status of women in political and social-economic life of the country, protect their rights and interests.

He said that everyone knows and highly rates women, who achieve high results in key spheres. He noted that currently over 62% of able-bodied women work in various sectors of economy, in management and production sector.

President said that when someone talk about women, people used to think that women’s work required in education, healthcare, culture and art spheres, and such sectors as light, food and processing.

He underlined that about 70% of working women are working in general schools in Uzbekistan. Number of women in professional colleges and academic lyceums makes up 50%, in higher educational establishments – 43%.

About 78% of medical personal are women, including about 53% of doctors, Uzbek leader said. Over 100,000 female doctors have academic degree, which makes up about 37% of doctors with high degrees.

Islam Karimov said that share of women, working in high technologic industries such as automobile, micro biology, pharmaceutics, electronic and electrotechnical, ICT, services and market services are increasing due to wide-scale reforms in Uzbekistan.

Currently, about 55% of workers of mobile and internet providers are women and 43% of specialists of financial and banking system are female, Uzbek President said. In last ten years, share of women, heading small and private businesses, rose 1.6 times and now head over 40% of small businesses.

Women make up almost half of people, working in agriculture sector, and they make great contribution to production of rich crop of cotton and grain, fruits and vegetables, meat and milk products, Islam Karimov noted.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that women are actively participating in public and political life of Uzbekistan and construction of democratic state and civil society.

Uzbek leader underlined that 33 women hold MPs posts in Legislative Chamber and another 16 women are members of the Senate. He also noted that chairperson of the Legislative Chamber is a woman, while women work as deputy chairperson of Senate, Deputy Prime Minister, deputy governors.

President Islam Karimov said that during independence years 13 women received highest award of the country – Uzbekistan Qahramony (Hero of Uzbekistan). He added that actually all women are Heroes of Uzbekistan as they greatly manage their works in home and at work, participate in public life and help to development of young generation.

President Islam Karimov expressed his assurance that people of Uzbekistan are proud from Uzbek women, who manage to deal with difficult issues.

At the same time, Uzbek leader called to boost work on upbringing youth in families and mahallas and protect them from various negative influences, including “mass culture”. He said that women will be key allies of the President in upbringing young generation, especially girls.