TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 11. Uzbekistan provided loans worth 35 trillion soums ($2.7 billion) and subsidies worth 7 trillion soums ($551.8 million) for entrepreneurial projects to reduce poverty at the community level, Trend reports.
This was revealed during a video conference call headed by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the issues of transition to a new high-quality level in the fight against poverty.
A whopping 120 trillion soums ($9.4 billion) have been earmarked to give local communities a leg up, along with a boost for kindergartens, schools, healthcare, and the nuts and bolts of roads, water, and electricity infrastructure.
In addition, the country has handed out 260,000 hectares of land as a golden opportunity for 800,000 people, primarily the youth, to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in farming.
Noteworthy that last month, more than 60 countries participating in an international conference on poverty reduction praised Uzbekistan's experience achieved in a short period of time.
Meanwhile, the poverty rate has decreased by more than 2 percent in Uzbekistan's Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, and Khorezm regions from January through June 2024, while there has been no change in Navoi, Surkhandarya, Fergana, and Tashkent.
On the flip side, in 15 districts across the nation, the poverty rate is climbing over the 20 percent mark.