Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The progress and cultural level of any country and society are determined by the attitude towards women. In this regard, systematic and comprehensive measures are being implemented in Uzbekistan in this direction. This issue was also given attention at the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which continues its work in the capital.

Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbayeva, who took part in the event held within the framework of the forum on the theme “Strengthening the role of women in the development of small and medium-sized businesses”, paid special attention to the increase in the representation of women in the country’s economy.

- I am glad that active and business women take part in today’s prestigious forum, - said T. Narbayeva. “This is clear evidence that women occupy an important place in society, contributing to the development of the economy. Indeed, stereotypes about women as helpless are being eradicated today. The important thing is that their self-confidence grows. They play a key role in prestigious industries and areas, occupying leadership positions, successfully carrying out their activities, actively working in different directions. The work carried out to ensure gender equality, the necessary opportunities created to increase the socio-political activity of women have opened up wide opportunities for this.

It should be noted that in Uzbekistan the number of women in parliament has reached almost 32%. The proportion of women in leadership positions has reached 27%, in parties - 48%, in higher education - 49%, in entrepreneurship - 35%. Today, in our country, women hold the positions of minister, khokim, ambassador, rector, as well as senior positions in law enforcement agencies.

Increased attention to education, raising the level of knowledge, women’s qualifications, thanks to which women get the opportunity to master modern knowledge and crafts, including managing modern information technologies.

“The level of enrollment in preschool education for boys and girls today has reached 80%,” said the Chairman of the Senate. — Previously, the coverage rate was 17%. Consequently, our daughters receive knowledge and education from childhood. This continues at school and then in higher educational institutions. This is also provided for in the program aimed at ensuring gender equality, and in this respect a significant result has been achieved. It is noteworthy that the principles of gender equality are also spelled out in the Constitution in a new edition, which provides for special attention of the state to women, which, in turn, enhances the role of women in the life of the state and society and contributes to their self-realization.

As you know, since 2020, quotas have been introduced for the admission of girls from socially unprotected families to study at higher educational institutions. Since the 2022/2023 academic year, interest-free loans have been introduced to pay for educational contracts for women studying at higher educational institutions, technical schools and colleges. The procedure for reimbursement at the expense of the state of paid-contract funds to all women studying in the magistracy has been determined. A procedure has been introduced for reimbursement of educational contracts to representatives of socially needy families, women-orphans or students left without parental care, at the expense of additional sources of the local budget without a return condition.

“Achievements are due not only to the opportunities created, but also to the desire and self-confidence of our women, which should be strengthened,” said the President of the Senate. - In the implementation of the goals and plans, of course, an important place was occupied by informing the general public about their essence. I would like to note that representatives of civil society institutions, journalists and bloggers provide us with close support in this matter. But we still have a lot to do. Our noble goal is to ensure the well-being, stability and, ultimately, the prosperity of society by increasing the activity of women.

During the discussions, the participants of the event focused on such issues as assisting girls in their development as an active person, empowered to manage business, the state and society, increasing the number of girls who study in higher and secondary specialized educational institutions, providing them with more opportunities . At the same time, attention is paid to the obstacles that women face when starting small and medium-sized businesses, the issues of their elimination and improvement of living standards, an increase not only in the number of women in business, but also in the types of businesses headed by women.