Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the youth of Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent.

The Head of State warmly congratulated all young people of Uzbekistan on the Youth Day holiday.

“In recent years, as our economy has been growing rapidly and opportunities in every field continue to expand, there is no doubt that your contribution, the youth, is significant.

When I see our young men, full of strength and energy, resolutely striving toward their goals, and our young women, unmatched in knowledge, upbringing, intellect, and insight, I understand: any nation, any state can rightly envy us.

Why do major countries and the world’s most respected companies trust us today? Why are they investing billions of dollars?

Of course, this is not by chance. Our partners see the success of our youth in science, education, IT, culture, art, and sports. They recognize our potential and are convinced that we have a solid foundation for the future,” said the President.

The President noted that from the very beginning of reforms, the goal was to establish a chain of "knowledge – upbringing – innovation," and today these efforts are yielding concrete results.

For instance, last year, Uzbekistan’s youth ranked first in Central Asia for admission to the world’s top 500 universities.

For the first time in history, talented young people from Uzbekistan were accepted into the top five global universities — a significant achievement.

Currently, 30 of our young people are studying at top-10 universities worldwide, 500 at top-100 institutions, and 1,500 at prestigious universities ranked in the top 300.

A long-awaited football celebration was recently held across the country. A 34-year-old dream of our people came true — for the first time, the national team earned a spot in the World Cup.

“Not so long ago, it was hard to imagine that children from ordinary families, whose lives were spent in cotton fields, could reach such heights in science, sports, and other fields.

We created opportunities for our youth, and they made the most of them, conquering the highest peaks.

If the First and Second Renaissances were created by great scholars and thinkers, today history is handing the baton to you.

I believe that you are capable of raising our country’s flag high in every field. You are the golden generation that will create a new chapter as the builders of the New Uzbekistan!” the President declared.

The Head of State emphasized that today’s world is becoming increasingly unstable and complex, and now more than ever, we feel that peace is the greatest value, while human dignity and justice are the highest ideals.

“In a country where there are many highly educated, broad-minded, modern, and technologically literate young people, peace, progress, and mutual unity will always be sustained.

Providing youth with quality education and upbringing, teaching them modern professions and trades, foreign languages, and creating all necessary conditions to help them find their place in life — this has become our main goal and sacred duty,” the President stated.

It was noted that in many regions and districts, existing opportunities are being effectively utilized, making them exemplary.

For example, the annual turnover of 261 enterprises founded by young entrepreneurs exceeded 100 billion soums. While Tashkent previously led in this area, today the youth of Tashkent region, Samarkand, Andijan, Namangan, and Fergana are achieving similar success in business.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan, along with the regions of Kashkadarya, Navoi, Syrdarya, and Khorezm, are among the leading areas in terms of youth employment.

Surkhandarya region made a significant leap in university admissions, rising from 11th to 4th place in just one year. Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions also showed promising results.

Two years ago, students from seven regions won prizes at international academic Olympiads; in the last six months alone, students from Jizzakh, Andijan, Namangan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Khorezm, and Tashkent region joined their ranks, earning a total of 166 medals.

Under the "One Million Programmers" project, 325,000 young people received training. Notably, youth from Khorezm, Kashkadarya, and Samarkand acquired skills that now enable them to earn decent income in the IT sector.

Another telling achievement: over 150,000 young men and women obtained international language certificates last year — double the number from 2023.

In foreign language proficiency, youth from Tashkent, Fergana, Namangan, Bukhara, and Samarkand stand out.

“Of course, no one understands youth better than their peers — they lead by example, inspire and motivate one another.

That’s why we appointed young leaders in more than 9,000 mahallas. Over three years, they have learned a great deal and gained valuable experience.

Now they must learn to work with schools, colleges, language and vocational training centers,” said the President.

He noted with concern that 167,000 unengaged youth and 17,000 students with difficult behavior or at risk of delinquency currently reside in mahallas.

In this regard, the Head of State addressed the newly elected mahalla chairpersons:

“Who is responsible for peace, cohesion, kindness, and a healthy atmosphere in the mahalla? First and foremost — you.

If even one child in the mahalla goes astray, it must be treated as an emergency. Therefore, you must care for every child, their fate, and their future.”

“One thing must be clearly understood: there are no bad children. They need adult love, the right conditions to show their abilities, and motivation to believe in themselves,” the President continued.

As a positive example, he noted with satisfaction that 108 "champions" of business — members of the Public Council on Entrepreneurship — visit schools near their 308 enterprises, sparking students’ interest in various professions.

What’s most important — most of these students already have a clear idea of the profession they want to pursue.

“These proactive, selfless, and patriotic entrepreneurs — they are my wings.

Tell me, what else needs to be done, what conditions must we create to support youth, help them gain skills, secure employment and income?

If our major entrepreneurs meet with local governors and submit their proposals in the near future, I am ready to consider them all,” stated the President.

Today, there are around 15,000 educational and 7,500 vocational training centers operating across the country. Over the past few years, they have received more than 100 types of benefits and preferences.

Taking the opportunity, the Head of State also addressed these institutions, urging them not to be content with current achievements, but to expand and increase the number of young people mastering modern professions and foreign languages. He emphasized his readiness to provide all necessary support for this.

Regional and district governors were instructed to treat every child as their own — to know their health, studies, behavior, interests, dreams, and problems.

It was noted that if they establish constant communication platforms with youth, and bring together the efforts of schools, universities, training centers, and entrepreneurs to create an effective support system — there will definitely be results.

“All this must not turn into a campaign for the sake of reporting,” the President stressed. “Changes should be deeply felt every day by every young person in every mahalla.

Only then, in the New Uzbekistan, will there be no such thing as youth who are uneducated, unskilled, unemployed — in other words, unorganized.”

At a meeting held in February this year, over 40 new initiatives for youth were announced, and nearly US$500 million was allocated.

This year, 8,300 projects totaling US$35 billion are being launched, expected to create 292,000 jobs. Additionally, another US$83 billion worth of investment projects are planned, which will generate 500,000 more jobs.

For instance, projects worth US$20 billion will be implemented in energy, US$11 billion in the oil, gas and chemical industries, US$7 billion in mining, and US$4.5 billion in electrical engineering and automotive sectors. Thousands of new enterprises will be established.

With the launch of these projects, there will be growing demand for thousands of specialists in green economy, renewable energy, digital geology, technological minerals, and bioengineering.

“In this age of new technologies, who will succeed? Only those who think creatively, possess modern knowledge and skills.

I see your enthusiasm, and I confidently say: it is you, the youth, who will manage these enterprises, make major breakthroughs, and implement innovations.

That is why we are beginning the training of personnel for these projects right now,” declared the President.

The “Garvardchilar” School has begun operating as the Abu Rayhan Beruni International School.

This year, 60 eighth-grade graduates will be selected to begin training in three directions. In the future, the number of places will be significantly expanded.

As part of the national program, 3,000 of the most capable students will be selected annually to prepare for admission to the world’s leading universities — such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell and others.

At least 300 of them will be from low-income families.

The noble idea that “education is an investment in the future” is gradually becoming a powerful movement in our society.

The activities of the “El-Yurt Umidi” Foundation were recently improved. Now the system for compensating tuition and living expenses for students admitted to the world’s top 300 universities will operate under new rules.

In particular, quotas for STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — as well as priority areas such as energy, transport, urban planning, architecture, construction, and agriculture and water management will be significantly increased.

In addition, banks will now offer concessional educational loans of up to US$20,000 for youth admitted to top-300 universities.

In Uzbekistan, 100 specialized projects will be implemented in priority sectors such as banking and finance, healthcare, agriculture, and energy as part of the national push to develop artificial intelligence.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also announced the start of the development of a national AI model that reflects the cultural values and mentality of the Uzbek people. This system will combine the country’s rich historical heritage with modern approaches and will contribute to fostering creative thinking among young people.

To support this initiative, a joint program with the United Arab Emirates titled "One Million AI Leaders" is being launched.

This year alone, no fewer than 100,000 young Uzbeks will study artificial intelligence technologies through the "AI study" platform.

Currently, 19,500 computer science teachers are employed in schools. The Ministry of Preschool and School Education will revise the curriculum using the AI education platform of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In each region, 100 computer science teachers will undergo training at the New Uzbekistan University under this program within the year. These mentors will then train other computer science teachers in their region over two years using a cascading model.

As a result, within five years, all school graduates will receive sufficient knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence.

In the “Digital Generation: Girls” competition, 120 startups by school and university students were selected in areas such as education, AI, the green economy, climate change, and others. This year, the program will reach at least 50,000 girls.

A comprehensive startup support system has been created in Uzbekistan, attracting US$145 million in venture investments. The President announced plans to increase this amount to US$1 billion.

Work in this area will now begin at the school level. A special subject — "Hour of Skills and Business" — is being introduced, and 100 billion soums in grants will be allocated to turn students’ ideas into startups.

Among higher education institutions, an annual competition titled "Best Creative Idea" will be held, with winners receiving grants of up to 300 million soums from university funds.

To develop and test prototypes, the Agency for Innovation and the IT Park will create a dedicated R&D center. The Youth Venture Fund will cover up to US$50,000 in expenses for the creation of prototypes of the best projects.

Additionally, a "Startup Expo" exhibition will be held annually, bringing together investors, large companies, and startup initiators.

Today, around one million young people are employed in sectors such as mining, the agro-industrial complex, textiles, chemicals, electrical engineering, and building materials production.

To support employment for high school graduates who do not enter universities, as well as students finishing colleges and universities, two separate programs have been approved. For this purpose, Aloqabank and the National Bank have been allocated US$300 million.

Under the "Youth Business" program, 100,000 young people will be provided with employment, while the "Step into the Future" project will cover another 140,000 university graduates.

The Ministry of Employment, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Bank, will launch a platform to connect graduates of universities, colleges, and vocational schools with potential employers.

The Ministries of Employment, Public Education, and Higher Education will create an electronic system called "Income in Action," designed to engage three million young people in seasonal, low-skill jobs during the summer.

To help high school students choose a career, the nationwide "My Profession" competition will be held annually.

A professional development system is also being created for young people employed in industry, services, entrepreneurship, and agriculture. For each sector, national professional competitions will be organized for youth, with equal participation from public and private sector representatives.

Each year, sector leaders will select 100 young professionals for international internships. To fund this, each sector will allocate 10 billion soums, which will be exempted from taxation.

Over the past seven years, the public administration workforce has become significantly younger: the proportion of leaders under the age of 40 has increased from 37% to 65%.

"In building the New Uzbekistan and realizing the principle of 'a state that serves the people,' we rely on talented, initiative-driven young men and women like you," the President stated.

He recalled that last month he signed a significant decree on training promising personnel and involving them in public service.

Under this decree, each year 100 young specialists will study at the Academy of Public Administration under the "Leaders of the Future" program.

Each participant will have the opportunity to complete a two-month internship under a minister or regional governor, followed by an additional one-month internship abroad.

These young professionals, upon completing the program, will become the primary candidates for leadership roles within the public administration system.

Competitions play an important role in boosting young people's interest in reading.

For example, Dilbar Haydarova, an 8th-grade student from the Khorezmi School, won the “Young Booklover” contest and was awarded a car on behalf of the President, which was presented to her parents.

"My dear Dilbarhon, with your example, you proved that when a person wholeheartedly strives toward a goal, they can achieve great things. You have become a role model for many on this path. Thank you very much! Gratitude also goes to your parents who raised you," said the President.

To spark greater interest among young people in acting, music, and reading, contests such as “Turan Theater,” “Talent Ensemble,” and “In the Footsteps of the Jadids” were organized, attracting participation from nearly 400,000 students.

Now, the winning ensembles will regularly visit remote schools, using their performances to inspire interest in culture and the arts among their peers. Regional governors will provide them with buses for this purpose.

Winners of the national stage of the competition will receive admission privileges to higher education institutions specializing in culture and the arts.

Winners of the regional stage of the “Iqtidor” ensemble contest will have the opportunity to study free of charge in children's art and music schools.

“The protection of the younger generation from various harmful influences, and the provision and promotion of meaningful, educational content in the information space must always remain a top priority,” emphasized President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In this context, it was noted that a Children's Content Development Center has been established, which will be responsible for creating educational materials for children based on national culture, art, literature, history, and spiritual values.

Since the beginning of this year, military-sports competitions titled "Shijoat va G'ayrat" have been held in mahallas across the country, with participation from 244,000 boys and girls. More than one million young people followed these events with great interest. These competitions have become an important movement promoting patriotism, bravery, and unity.

“In preserving the independence of our country and the peaceful, secure life of our people, we rely on you, our dear youth.

Never forget: independence is not just a formal status — it is a great value that gives every young person the opportunity to define their own destiny,” said the President.

It was emphasized that the youth policy reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan are receiving broad recognition from the international community.

Uzbekistan is now among the ten countries most actively implementing the UN’s “Youth 2030” strategy. According to the Youth Development Index, Uzbekistan has been recognized as the fastest-progressing country in the field of youth policy.

The city of Bukhara has been declared the youth capital of the Turkic world, while Tashkent has been named the youth capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

These days, Uzbekistan is hosting the Global Youth Festival, which brings together over 300 young people from more than 30 countries, along with representatives from over 10 reputable international organizations.

The President expressed confidence that this forum would become an effective platform for building cooperation and sharing experiences — not only for young people in Uzbekistan but also for youth around the globe.

President Mirziyoyev also spoke with young people gathered at various thematic platforms, including "Creative Economy," "Digital Green Initiatives," "Youth Entrepreneurship and Startups," and "Young Innovators," once again emphasizing that today’s youth are the true builders of the New Uzbekistan.

“I am proud of you! Every one of your achievements is a victory for our entire multinational nation.

Your determination, healthy mindset, happiness, and success are also a source of pride and joy for millions of parents, mentors, teachers, and loved ones,” stated the President.

The Head of State spoke with proactive and successful youth representatives from various fields, listening to their proposals and ideas.

Earlier, by Presidential Decree, a group of young men and women who had become role models for their peers in science, technology, culture, the arts, sports, entrepreneurship, and other areas were honored with state awards.

Today, at a formal ceremony, the President personally presented these deserving young individuals with their awards.