President Mirziyoyev congratulates women on International Women’s Day

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President awards women on March 8 holiday  

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On March 7, a ceremonial event took place at the Ko‘ksaroy Residence, where President Shavkat Mirziyoyev celebrated International Women’s Day with the women of Uzbekistan. During the event, the President extended his heartfelt congratulations and acknowledged the invaluable contributions of women to society.

“Dear mothers, sisters, and daughters, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on International Women’s Day,” he began. Mirziyoyev cited the teachings of Alisher Navoiy, who greatly revered women and emphasized the need for devotion to their happiness. “Indeed, qualities such as kindness, compassion, love, and loyalty are brought to life through the efforts of women. Your role in strengthening the family and fostering noble human values is incomparable,” he remarked.

The President expressed that celebrating this occasion during the holy month of Ramadan lends even greater meaning to the day. He highlighted the teachings of Islam, which encourage kindness and honor toward mothers, sisters, and daughters.

“May this joyful day bring blessings to you all!” he added.

Mirziyoyev emphasized that ensuring women’s rights and dignity has become a core priority of Uzbekistan’s state policy. He also expressed gratitude for the critical role women play in various sectors of the nation’s progress.

For information, key statistics illustrating this growth: in 2017, women made up 20% of management positions, but this figure has now risen to 35%. Moreover, women account for 38% of deputies in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and 27% of members in the Senate. Their increasing participation in governance and parliamentary activities has had a positive impact on society, he noted.

“The most important thing is that intelligent, educated, and talented women are becoming role models across all areas of life. Last year, female athletes achieved unprecedented success, winning 3 gold, 8 silver, and 3 bronze medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a historic milestone for us,” he stated.

He also celebrated the achievements of women in the fields of culture and art. “Last year, 25 women triumphed in prestigious international competitions, while 71 others won national contests. These accomplishments demonstrate the growing potential of our women.”

The President reaffirmed his commitment to supporting women and girls, stating:

 “We will continue to create opportunities for them to realize their potential as part of the next generation of builders and innovators.”

Mirziyoyev highlighted the growing role of women in society, noting the challenges they face. “Women bear a much greater burden and responsibility than men, balancing household duties, child-rearing, education, work, and even entrepreneurship. Women who manage these are the true heroes of our time,” he said.

He pledged to continue prioritizing women’s welfare as a key aspect of state policy.

“In the New Uzbekistan, alleviating women’s hardships and creating favorable conditions for them in all fields will remain a central focus of government initiatives,” he affirmed.

The President detailed several initiatives for women’s welfare, aligning with the principles of social protection in the revised Constitution. As part of the “Women’s Notebook” program, 1 million women in need have been identified for assistance.

This year, the government will provide medical support to 162,000 women with disabilities, financial aid to 130,000 widows, and housing improvements for 6,000 women. Additionally, unemployed women seeking jobs will be supported with employment opportunities.

Efforts also include sending 50,000 women in difficult circumstances to recreational and educational programs annually. These women will receive psychological support and entrepreneurship training through motivational seminars, spearheaded by the Federation of Trade Unions.

Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of women’s health, describing it as the foundation of a strong society. To this end, 230 maternity facilities will be equipped with 21,000 advanced medical devices. Furthermore, screening programs will be conducted this year to detect early cancer in 1.5 million women.

Promoting physical fitness among women is also a priority. This year, 4 million women from various neighborhoods will participate in mass sports competitions, contributing to a healthier and more vibrant social environment.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of strong and healthy families as the foundation of societal stability.

“We must embrace an important truth as a guiding principle in our lives: when women are healthy, families become stronger, moral values flourish, productivity increases, and trust in the future grows,” he stated during his address.

The President noted the progress in Uzbekistan, where 40,000 exemplary families serve as role models for society. Last year, 208 families were awarded the “Model Family” badge of honor. As an example, he mentioned the Qoziboyev family from Toshloq district, who for 45 years have been a source of inspiration. The family matriarch, Muqaddamxon opa, dedicated 35 years of her life to educating young generations and, together with her husband, established a farming enterprise that supports 50 families in their district.

Further illustrating their contributions, the Qoziboyev family has provided care and mentorship to over 30 vulnerable families, ensuring children receive education and vocational training.

“These exemplary families, who contribute to raising well-rounded generations and combating poverty, deserve the highest recognition,” the President added. He extended heartfelt thanks to such families, calling them the true symbols of the “New Uzbekistan.”

He remarked, “The more model families we have, the stronger our nation becomes, and the more powerful our people are. A model family lays the foundation for a just and exemplary society.”

The President also addressed the significant focus on quality education for women and girls in recent years. Over 52% of students in Uzbekistan’s 203 higher educational institutions are women. Last year alone, nearly 15,000 female graduate students received financial support amounting to 100 billion soums for their tuition fees. Currently, more than 6,200 women are engaged in scientific research, contributing 25% of scientific innovations in Uzbekistan. Several women have achieved international acclaim for their work.

He highlighted the achievements of microbiologist Dilfuza Egamberdiyeva, who earned UNESCO’s prestigious Carlos Finlay Prize for her groundbreaking research on cultivating crops in saline soils.

This year, 250,000 girls are expected to enroll in higher education institutions—a 3.5-fold increase compared to 2017. With this initiative, each neighborhood will have 25–30 women pursuing higher education. The Chairperson of the Committee for Women and Families, Zulayho Mahkamova, and Minister of Preschool and School Education, Hilola Umarova, are tasked with working individually with high school girls to prepare them for university.

President Mirziyoyev also announced the launch of the “Bright Future” project, aimed at providing scholarships for talented youth from disadvantaged families to study abroad. Under this program, at least 200 girls will be sent annually to prestigious universities worldwide. Furthermore, 250,000 women will receive training in vocational skills and entrepreneurship through programs coordinated by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Qongratbay Sharipov, and the Minister of Poverty Reduction and Employment, Botir Zohidov.

The President acknowledged that unemployment remains a significant concern for women. “Ensuring women’s employment and encouraging entrepreneurship are critical priorities,” he said. Last year, 17 trillion soums in loans were allocated to support these efforts. As a result, women entrepreneurs generated 81 trillion soums in goods and services and exported products worth $450 million. He cited the example of Shahnoza Karimova, an entrepreneur in Navoiy city, who has trained and employed 50 disadvantaged women and financially supported 10 of them to purchase homes.

“These remarkable and philanthropic women can be found across our regions. Their initiative—‘I am a Builder Woman’—aims to train thousands of women in professions and help them achieve financial independence. This deeply inspires me,” he said. The President expressed gratitude to such socially responsible women, referring to them as “New Uzbekistan’s Builder Women,” and pledged to provide them with additional support and resources.

As a concrete step forward, the President proposed establishing the Women Entrepreneurs’ Council under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “This council could directly raise issues affecting women entrepreneurs at the parliamentary level, addressing their challenges effectively,” he explained. Nodira Shotursunova, Deputy Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will oversee this initiative.

The President announced ambitious plans to create jobs for 2 million women this year, including 1.3 million in entrepreneurial ventures. To support this effort, commercial banks will offer tailored financial packages to foster women’s entrepreneurship.

Continuing his address, President Mirziyoyev provided detailed insights into comprehensive initiatives aimed at supporting women’s employment and entrepreneurial ventures. He emphasized the role of financial institutions in empowering women across various sectors.

“For instance, the National Bank will support projects for at least 200,000 women in service industries, while Turonbank will allocate affordable loans for 150,000 women engaged in lemon farming. Similarly, Microcreditbank will assist 160,000 women in poultry farming, and Ipoteka Bank will enable 160,000 women to grow vegetables and seedlings,” the President shared.

He added, “Xalq Bank will assist 150,000 women in producing grapes, broccoli, and local cabbage. Agrobank will focus on horticulture, supporting 144,000 women, and the Development Bank will help 94,000 women cultivate greens, bell peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. Other banks, including Asakabank, Aloqabank, and others, are contributing to employment opportunities in various fields like IT, beekeeping, and pharmaceutical industries.”

To further promote women’s entrepreneurship, an additional 3.3 trillion soums will be allocated this year for local business projects in neighborhoods. Under the family entrepreneurship programs, another $100 million will be distributed. Additionally, commercial banks will raise $100 million and provide unsecured loans of up to 50 million soums for self-employed women.

President Mirziyoyev highlighted the support provided by the “Hamroh” company, launched last year to assist women entrepreneurs. “The program has been allocated $100 million. Women entrepreneurs who repay their loans on time will receive unsecured loans of up to 100 million soums under this program,” he said.

Moreover, grants of up to 50 million soums will be awarded to 1,000 mentor entrepreneurs who integrate five women each into business. The Central Bank will collaborate with commercial banks to implement financial services tailored specifically for women within two months. For instance, loan repayment periods will be extended by up to 10 months for women on maternity leave.

“We are now introducing a new four-stage system for developing women’s entrepreneurship. In the first stage, 20,000 women interested in business but lacking skills will receive training. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry will oversee this phase,” the President explained.

“In the second stage, Xalq Bank will help 100,000 self-employed women transition to small business ownership. In the third stage, the ‘Hamroh’ company will assist two small enterprises in each district to grow into exemplary medium-sized businesses. And in the fourth stage, the Chamber of Commerce will transform the 50 most active women entrepreneurs into ‘champion entrepreneurs’ with annual turnovers exceeding 100 billion soums.”

This year, ambitious goals include transforming 60 districts into “regions free from unemployment and poverty.” Regional governors will be responsible for ensuring that two districts in each province become areas where no unemployed women remain. “The year 2025 will be a decisive year for ensuring women’s employment,” Mirziyoyev affirmed.

Through vocational training, employment support, and entrepreneurial development, 2 million women are expected to gain stable employment this year. Among them, 1.3 million women will be trained and supported by the Central Bank and commercial banks, while the Federation of Trade Unions will assist 636,000 women from the “Women’s Notebook” initiative. Additionally, the Committee for Women and Families will support 100,000 aspiring female entrepreneurs in starting their businesses.

The President assigned responsibilities to key figures, including Zulayho Mahkamova and Qudratilla Rafiqov, to ensure the effective execution of these plans at regional and neighborhood levels. Senate Chairperson Tanzila Norboyeva was tasked with overseeing systematic monitoring and discussion of these initiatives.

Mirziyoyev concluded his address by emphasizing the rising standards of living, culture, and social consciousness in Uzbekistan. “We are setting great and noble goals in every sector and direction. Achieving them depends on nurturing a capable new generation—a task that lies in the hands of you, our devoted mothers,” he said.

Expressing deep respect and admiration, he added, “We will never tire of supporting you, esteemed women. On this holiday, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the women who have achieved great results in their work and public service. A group of these honored women has been awarded high state orders and medals.”

The President also announced that 28 outstanding young women were recognized with the prestigious Zulfiya State Award for their achievements in various fields. “May these high honors bring joy to all of you!”

He concluded, “I wholeheartedly congratulate you all once again on this blessed holiday. I wish you health, peace, and prosperity in your homes, and may the greatest wealth of all—family happiness—accompany you always. May you continue to be cherished by your families and our nation!”