Shavkat Mirziyoyev announces his plans to support compatriots abroad

“150,000 of our youth are studying in foreign universities. In addition, about 2 million of our compatriots are working abroad, away from their families, parents and children, to make a living. Of course, it is not easy to earn bread in a foreign country, enduring various difficulties and hardships, working honestly.

It would be correct to say that our people living abroad in such conditions are real heroes. We should thank our compatriots who are gaining experience and qualifications abroad,” the candidate said.

According to his plans, in the next seven years:

•  exhibitions of artisans and potters will be held in foreign countries, Navruz and Independence holidays will be widely celebrated;
•  a package of special trips and discounts will be developed for our compatriots throughout Uzbekistan, especially to the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz;
•  300 billion soums will be allocated to the public fund “Compatriots” for the effective organization of these activities, and the powers of this public fund will be expanded.

At the same time, for our compatriots who want to work and do business in our country:

•  the term of entry visas will be extended from 1 to 3 years, state fees will be reduced by 3 times (currently – up to $250);
•  The license requirement for working in Uzbekistan will be canceled, the possibility of using all rights will be created;
•  The procedure for permanent residence in Uzbekistan will be simplified;
•  “Compatriot’s certificate” will be introduced in our country, which will allow the purchase of housing and real estate, the use of education, medicine and other public services on the basis of equal rights.

During his speech, the candidate also talked about bringing our compatriots who died abroad to Uzbekistan and taking special care of their children.

“We will further strengthen the guarantees of protecting the rights and interests of our citizens abroad. In particular, we will further expand the possibilities of material assistance in the foreign country itself to all our compatriots who are in a difficult situation. In particular, they will be fully reimbursed for the expenses of temporary residence, restoring their documents, and returning to their motherland.

Bringing our compatriots who died abroad to their country will be provided by the state. Their dependent family members will be given special care, and comprehensive support will be provided for their children’s education and vocational training.

In addition, in order to protect the rights of our people working abroad, a system will be established to cover the costs of hiring a lawyer and provide them with legal assistance,” he said.

Our compatriots who are looking for high-paying jobs in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Japan and European countries will be fully reimbursed for the expenses of obtaining a travel ticket and a “working visa”.

In addition, for our compatriots abroad:

•  opportunities to obtain documents online and provide other state services will be created, the prices of which will be equal to domestic tariffs;
•  the fee for keeping a permanent consular account will be canceled, the conditions for keeping an account will be simplified;
•  the scope of health and life insurance will be expanded. In this case, a subsidy for insurance costs will be given to the persons entered in the “social register” and “3 notebooks”;
•  Centers providing free legal, material and social assistance will be opened in Germany, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, as well as in major cities of Russia (currently established in Moscow, Russia and in Korea, Kazakhstan and Turkey);
•  in order to quickly solve all the issues of our compatriots abroad, “call-centers” will be established in our embassies, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Employment and Internal Affairs, which work day and night.

“In general, $200 million will be allocated to work with our compatriots abroad, social, legal and material support measures for our people who have gone to work and study abroad,” the candidate said.