President: About 970,000 people were employed in 2013

The session summed up results of social-economic development of Uzbekistan for 2013 and approved main priorities of economic programmes for 2014.

President said that implementation of regional programmes on creation of jobs and employment of population in 2013 helped to provide jobs to about 970,000 people. Some 60.3% of them fell to share of rual areas.

He said that about 480,000 new jobs were opened due to development of small businesses, microfirms and individual entrepreneurship. Development of out-work helped to launch 210,000 new jobs.

Islam Karimov said that over 500,000 graduates of professional colleges found jobs in 2013. He said that the banks provided over 140 billion soums of preferential loans to graduates of colleges to open their own businesses.

President said that the parliament approved an employment programme for 2014, which envisages creation of about 1 million jobs this year.

He added that about 500,000 graduates of professionals, who received 2-3 professions, will be provided with jobs in 2014.