New benefits proposed for youth with foreign language certificates

Young people in Uzbekistan who achieve a B2-level foreign language certificate may receive new benefits, including reduced fees for obtaining an international passport, under a draft strategy reviewed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 20.

According to the draft “New Uzbekistan Youth – 2030” strategy, fees for certain public services could be reduced by up to 50% for those with C1-level certificates and for youth pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives.

The document is described as the country’s first comprehensive youth strategy, aimed at unlocking the full potential of young people in building a “New Uzbekistan.”

Uzbekistan’s population currently stands at around 38 million, of which 9.5 million—or nearly 25%—are aged between 14 and 30. Each year, about 270,000 new young families are formed, highlighting the need for a long-term and systematic approach to youth policy.

The strategy outlines key priorities such as promoting youth employment and entrepreneurship, expanding access to quality and inclusive education, popularizing foreign language learning, developing vocational training, supporting young families, strengthening cultural and physical development, expanding volunteerism, improving youth health, and increasing openness and participation.

Targets set through 2030 include providing employment for 600,000 young people annually, engaging 900,000 youth in volunteer activities, increasing the number of training centers to 90,000, raising 450,000 young people’s foreign language proficiency to at least B2 level, reducing youth crime, and supporting at least 10,000 young families each year through mortgage programs.

The strategy also proposes expanding educational opportunities in remote areas, supporting private education providers, and introducing new incentives for learning foreign languages.

Among the proposed measures are allocating loans of up to 300 million soum to establish training centers in remote regions, setting social tax and teachers’ income tax at 1% for such centers, and reducing passport issuance fees for B2-level certificate holders, as well as cutting certain state service fees by up to 50% for those with C1-level certificates and entrepreneurial initiatives.

The president emphasized that all initiatives related to youth policy should primarily serve to ensure that the younger generation grows up educated, healthy, proactive, and patriotic, and is able to secure a worthy place in society. Relevant officials have been instructed to ensure effective implementation of the strategy.