5 years in the past, round 650 million folks lived in poverty throughout the globe. At this time, that quantity has climbed to greater than 800 million. In different phrases, one out of each ten folks on Earth nonetheless struggles to fulfill their fundamental wants. These stark realities place pressing obligations on governments, worldwide organisations, and the worldwide neighborhood.
Amid this world problem, Uzbekistan has made the combat in opposition to poverty a state precedence. As a part of its efforts, the nation hosted the third Worldwide Discussion board “From Poverty to Prosperity” in Namangan, bringing collectively almost 200 worldwide consultants, policymakers, and representatives of main monetary establishments.
third Worldwide Discussion board “From Poverty to Prosperity” in Namangan, Uzbekistan – president.uz
From poverty to prosperity: A mannequin for the longer term
Opening the discussion board, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined Uzbekistan’s formidable path.
“We’re working to create an Uzbekistan mannequin for poverty discount by finding out profitable experiences from world wide. We’re able to set new, increased objectives: by 2030, in keeping with worldwide requirements, we’ve each alternative to utterly get rid of absolute poverty in Uzbekistan — and we will certainly obtain it!” he mentioned.
This imaginative and prescient earned reward from some worldwide companions. Liu Junwen, director basic of the Worldwide Poverty Discount Middle in China, instructed Euronews: “After I heard President Mirziyoyev’s introduction, I assumed: This can be a good coverage system for decreasing poverty.”
A nationwide programme: From poverty to prosperity
To translate this imaginative and prescient into actuality, Uzbekistan launched a brand new nationwide programme referred to as “From Poverty to Prosperity”. Protecting seven precedence areas — from constructing sustainable earnings sources to strengthening social safety — the programme’s primary focus will not be on short-term jobs, however on everlasting employment that secures steady earnings for residents.
Obid Khakimov, director of the Middle for Financial Analysis and Reform, defined the distinctiveness of this strategy.
“We began new poverty discount coverage in 2020 and this programme was environment friendly as a result of Uzbekistan has distinctive expertise”, he instructed Euronews. He added: “The distinctiveness is that the nation began working on the mahalla (native) stage. There are about 10,000 mahallas, and in all of them the federal government assigns a particular particular person with information and expertise who’s liable for poverty discount. In 2021, after we first measured poverty in Uzbekistan in accordance with the nationwide poverty line, it was 17%. Now it’s beneath 7%.”
This grassroots mannequin has confirmed transformative. Households obtain particular person consideration, whereas sources are directed to lift family earnings. Every year, between €2.3 and €2.8 billion is invested in bettering mahallas, modernising residing situations, and increasing native enterprise infrastructure.
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Uzbekistan lifted 7.5 million folks out of poverty
The outcomes converse for themselves. Based on the World Financial institution, Uzbekistan’s poverty price dropped from 32% in 2016 to only 8.9% in 2024 — lifting 7.5 million folks out of poverty.
Obert Pimhidzai, lead economist on the World Financial institution, shared his view on these figures. “What units Uzbekistan’s expertise aside is the velocity of progress, even after COVID. Between 2021 and 2024, when poverty stagnated and even elevated in lots of international locations, Uzbekistan achieved exceptional and sustained reductions,” he instructed Euronews.
With almost €30bn invested this yr alone, the nation created 300,000 new jobs and expanded programmes for girls and youth. From free medicines and social funds to vocational coaching and enterprise loans, the state is opening alternatives at each stage.
third Worldwide Discussion board “From Poverty to Prosperity” in Namangan – president.uz
Regional affect: Uzbekistan drives Central Asia’s combat in opposition to poverty
Past its nationwide progress, Uzbekistan can be shaping the area’s improvement.
As Pimhidzai instructed Euronews: “Uzbekistan, being one of many largest international locations in Central Asia, is crucial within the combat in opposition to poverty. Its progress accounts for about 20% of the general discount within the area. Going ahead, a lot of Central Asia’s success will rely on Uzbekistan’s continued progress.”
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Worldwide classes: Inclusive and inexperienced development
Consultants emphasised that Uzbekistan’s reforms hyperlink development with inclusivity and sustainability.
Sangheon Lee, assistant director basic for jobs and social safety on the Worldwide Labour Group (ILO), drew a comparability with China’s success.
“The Chinese language expertise is sort of related in some ways — combining robust financial objectives with inclusive insurance policies and focused measures at each nationwide and native ranges. Uzbekistan is following the same path, particularly in advancing the inexperienced transition,” he famous.
The combat in opposition to poverty delivers its best outcomes when financial development is matched with equity — when nations spend money on schooling, give folks the talents they want, and make alternatives accessible to all teams in society.
