A regular meeting of the Political Council of UzLiDeP
On March 24 this year, the Political Council of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople – the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan held its regular meeting. At the beginning of the session, the participants discussed the action plan for implementing the tasks outlined in the party’s election program within the framework of the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.
It was emphasized that every task defined in the state program for the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy is significant, as it aims to improve the well-being of the population and enhance the country’s potential. Notably, many of the initiatives and ideas regarding environmental protection and the green economy included in the state program align closely with the proposals and objectives outlined in the party’s election platform.
For example, the goals outlined in the program – such as establishing 100,000 hectares of green zones on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea and expanding forested areas in the Aral Sea region to 2.1 million hectares – are entirely consistent with the objectives outlined in the party’s election platform. Similarly, tasks such as increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy balance, constructing large-scale green energy plants through public-private partnerships, and launching a special platform by June 1, 2025, as part of the nationwide “One Million Green Families” movement, are also in harmony with UzLiDeP’s proposals and initiatives.
Our party, which places special emphasis on social issues, also supports the initiative to admit 3,500 children from low-income families to higher education institutions on a grant basis in accordance with established procedures. Our activists likewise endorse the proposal to introduce a system that supports public, eco-activist, and business community initiatives aimed at environmental protection. Furthermore, the tasks outlined to strengthen parliamentary oversight in ensuring the efficient and prudent use of state budget funds are expected to make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of our country.
The participants also reviewed the activities carried out by the party up to the current date. It was noted that during this period, members of the party’s parliamentary faction, in cooperation with members of other factions, acted as co-initiators of five draft laws. A total of 27 events were organized with the initiative and direct involvement of faction members, including 7 seminars and 7 roundtable discussions. Over the same period, the faction held 13 meetings, during which 124 issues were reviewed.
Additionally, at the initiative of the faction, the “Government Hour” sessions included a report by Minister of Water Resources Sh. Khamrayev and a response by Director of the Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection I. Ergashev to a parliamentary inquiry. During the reporting period, the faction also received reports and presentations from the Cabinet of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Committee on Family and Women’s Affairs, Z. Mahkamova, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, L. Kudratov, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), and the Children’s Ombudsman.
Members of the faction submitted eight parliamentary inquiries to the heads of state and economic management bodies to ensure the implementation of the tasks set out in the party’s election program.
Additionally, during the reporting period, the activities of the party’s local council deputy groups, as well as projects aimed at engaging youth and women in entrepreneurship, were thoroughly analyzed.
The participants also addressed the importance of the priority tasks outlined by the President during the extended session of the National Council for Combating Corruption, which was dedicated to evaluating the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts and setting future priorities.
It was emphasized that the Head of state has put forward 55 specific and targeted initiatives to combat corruption. Within the framework of these initiatives, five laws, along with twelve decrees and resolutions, will be developed. The role of the parliament, national and regional councils, and civil society institutions in combating corruption will be significantly enhanced. In this process, our party and its parliamentary faction must work with even greater diligence and responsibility.
Based on all the initiatives outlined by the President, our party has developed a long-term action plan. From the grassroots level in the regions to the faction in the Legislative Chamber, all representatives of our party are actively engaged in its implementation.
The participants also paid special attention to the key issues highlighted during the President’s recent meeting with representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, which focused on elevating the sector’s role in the economy and taking its development to a new level. It was underscored that supporting entrepreneurship is our strategic path and that the rapid growth of entrepreneurship is a guarantee of our country’s economic strength and the well-being of our people.
At the meeting, it was acknowledged that the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has doubled over the past five years, with these businesses now accounting for more than half of the national economy, and contributing one-third of the country’s industrial output and exports. It was emphasized that serious attention will continue to be given to this sector in the current year as well. Specifically, the goal is to increase the share of SMEs in the economy to 55 percent, generate $70 billion in added value, and provide support in areas such as transportation, certification, and standards to help businesses access new markets. Efforts will also focus on raising small business exports from last year’s $9 billion to $12 billion.
At the meeting of the Political Council, it was noted that the initiatives proposed by the Head of state are fully aligned and consistent with the objectives outlined in the party’s election program.
The session also included an exchange of views on the content and significance of the President’s video conference meeting with youth held on February 14 this year. The President’s proposals and initiatives – such as creating beneficial employment opportunities for young people, supporting the financing of their entrepreneurial activities, implementing a systematic approach to promoting youth employment and business engagement, and expanding microfinance services to encourage youth entrepreneurship – were recognized as being in complete harmony with the goals outlined in the party’s election platform.
The meeting also included a discussion on the content and significance of the Presidential Resolution “On measures to improve the system of support for families and women”. It was acknowledged that the planned measures – ensuring employment for 2 million women, providing vocational and entrepreneurial training to 250,000 women, enrolling another 250,000 women in higher education, and organizing seminars to develop entrepreneurial skills for 50,000 women in need while also providing them with health recovery opportunities in sanatoriums – would serve to strengthen the system of social protection for women.
Following the meeting, relevant decisions were adopted on all items on the agenda.
