Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 3 February, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to discuss ongoing measures aimed at employment generation and attracting investments.

During meetings held in December and January, key priorities in these areas were outlined. The head of state emphasized that 2025 should mark a turning point in addressing employment challenges and reducing poverty.

This year, Uzbekistan plans to provide jobs for 5.2 million people, lift 1.5 million citizens out of poverty, attract US$42 billion in foreign investments, and increase export volumes to over US$30 billion.

Reports on progress and interim results were presented during the meeting. In January alone, 277,000 people found employment, including 91,000 in permanent positions and 153,000 in entrepreneurial activities.

New poverty reduction methods are being introduced across 32 key areas. Recently, teams from ministries and regional administrations visited China to study best practices and exchange expertise. Local authorities are actively informing citizens about available opportunities and supporting them in finding additional sources of income.

Job creation and investment attraction remain closely interconnected. This year, 8,000 projects worth US$14 billion are set to be launched, generating 272,000 permanent jobs.

Preliminary data indicates that Uzbekistan attracted US$3 billion in foreign investments last year. A similar volume of investments is expected in February, along with the launch of 630 new projects.

The meeting also highlighted the need to accelerate investment activities and adopt a tailored approach to each project. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan’s export volume has reached US$1.3 billion.

Officials were instructed to support businesses in accessing international markets and encourage more enterprises to engage in export activities.