By Alibek Beyjanov
Copyright qalampir
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is delivering a speech at the opening of the international forum ’’From poverty to prosperity’’ in Namangan today, September 17. The event is attended by representatives of more than 30 prestigious organizations and nearly 200 international experts, the President’s press secretary, Sherzod Asadov, reported.
The Head of State warmly welcomed the participants of the international conference on poverty reduction, held in Uzbekistan for the third time. He expressed gratitude to the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Muhammad Al-Jasser, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, Inmin Yang, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sachiko Imoto, Special Representative of the United Nations for Central Asia, Kaha Imnadze, Global Director for Poverty Reduction at the World Bank, Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva, as well as all other distinguished guests.
President Mirziyoyev noted that humanity is going through an extremely tense and unpredictable period. He emphasized that geopolitical, economic, and social instability are steadily increasing worldwide. Climate change, water scarcity, and pandemics are creating difficult and challenging tests for the planet.
Since 2015, global economic growth has averaged 3 percent, slowing compared to the previous decade. As a result, while five years ago 650 million people lived in poverty, today their number has exceeded 800 million.
’’This situation places new and urgent tasks before all states, international organizations, and the global community as a whole, requiring the adoption of swift and effective solutions,’’ the President said.
It was also emphasized that over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has carried out large-scale work aimed at protecting human rights, ensuring decent employment, increasing incomes, and improving living standards. All efforts were directed toward creating conditions and expanding opportunities for every individual, especially young people and women, to fully realize their potential.
During the most challenging period, the fight against poverty was elevated to the level of state policy and transformed into a nationwide movement. The Head of State noted that at that time, Uzbekistan lacked clear criteria and methodology for assessing poverty. In cooperation with the World Bank and UN institutions, national poverty standards were developed based on international experience.
The updated Constitution strictly stipulates that pensions, allowances, and social benefits cannot be lower than the minimum consumer expenditure. As a result of consistent reforms, 7.5 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and the poverty rate was reduced to 8.9 percent in 2024. By the end of the year, the goal is to lower it further to 6 percent.
