The key facts

  • Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that reports that «there are no more poor families» will henceforth not be accepted
  • In Bukhara Region, 99,000 citizens are in labor migration, 24,000 returnees have not found work, and the incomes of 270,000 residents are below average
  • Migrants are to be trained in professions, and plans are to be developed to grow industry, services, and agriculture 1.5-fold

Statement made at a meeting in Bukhara Region

During a trip to Bukhara Region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on developing the region's economy and improving the living standards of the population. According to Daryo.uz, it was there that he stated: «Reports claiming that there are no more poor families will no longer be accepted». Zamon.uz reported the same wording in both its Russian-language and Uzbek-language versions: «From now on, reports that 'there are no more poor families' will not pass».

Figures on employment and incomes

The statement was prompted by data on employment in the region: 99,000 residents are in labor migration abroad, and another 24,000 who have returned from abroad have not yet found work. The total number of unemployed in the region is approaching 40,000, while the incomes of 270,000 residents remain below the average level. The President instructed responsible officials to train fellow citizens working abroad for low wages in professions and place them in higher-paying jobs, as well as to develop district-by-district plans for raising the incomes of 270,000 people to the average level and above.

The region's economy and new tasks

Daryo.uz provides broader context from the meeting. It was noted that the region's economy will exceed 100 trillion soums for the first time this year, with growth of 10.1%; according to a survey, 98% of residents believe their quality of life has improved, and 83% of entrepreneurs view the prospects for the next three years positively. At the same time, 43% of the region's economy comes from natural resource extraction and agriculture, while the share of the services sector has grown over ten years only from 33% to 36%. The President emphasized the need to diversify the economy, develop deep processing of raw materials, and instructed that plans be prepared to increase indicators in industry, services, and agriculture by 1.5 times. Tashkent, Ferghana, and Jizzakh regions, which received an international credit rating from Fitch, were cited as examples — Bukhara Region, according to the President, should also demonstrate its potential to investors.