Gov’t plans to provide employment for 5.2 million people in 2025

Agreements have been signed between banks and 208 districts and cities, setting specific employment targets for each neighborhood. As part of the "Neighborhood" program, $1 billion in credit resources has been allocated across banks and regions. District bank heads have been given performance targets to focus on project development, loan issuance, and job creation.

To enhance coordination, the Central Bank Chairman and deputies will visit regions to optimize neighborhood bank branch operations. By February 1, 2025, district bank branches will establish special departments dedicated to working with neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have appointed "neighborhood bankers," supported by selected assistants.

Banks, in partnership with local authorities, will introduce business projects to the population and provide training in necessary skills for their implementation. To monitor progress, the information systems online-mahalla.uz, bank-kredit.uz, and soliq.uz will be integrated.

Notably, the unemployment rate among Uzbekistan’s working-age population decreased from 6.8% at the beginning of 2024 to 5.8% by November, marking a one percentage point improvement.

Earlier, Kun.uz reported that state banks would allocate $50 million to support startups in neighborhoods.