28/01/2022 - 18:15 3792

On January 28, 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan - Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Jamshid Kuchkarov chaired an online meeting of heads of ministries and departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on poverty reduction.

The meeting was attended by SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming and other heads of relevant ministries and departments, in particular, the Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China Hong Tanyong, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic Bazarbaev Nurdoolot Satibekovich, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on social protection and poverty alleviation Dr. Saniya Nishtar, First Deputy Minister of Labor Batalina Olga Yurievna, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan Ashurboy Solekhzoda.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming stressed the importance of exchanging experience and information on ways to reduce poverty and the mechanisms used in certain areas.

In his opening speech, Jamshid Kuchkarov briefed the meeting participants on the work done in recent years in the field of poverty reduction in Uzbekistan, emphasizing that all this is being carried out as part of the initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, put forward at the SCO and UN summits. In particular, the participants were introduced to the following main 3 areas:

• Strengthen the health care system (construction of new hospitals, increase in the number of beds, purchase of new medical equipment, medicines and vaccines, incentives for health workers, etc.);

• Strengthening the social protection system, including expanding the coverage of families, especially those affected by the pandemic, with state support;

• Supporting enterprises in the real sector of the economy by providing tax incentives, delaying loan payments.

At the same time, the work done to create and strengthen the basic institutional framework for the implementation of the new poverty reduction program was highlighted. In particular, in 2020-2021, the number of families receiving benefits from the state budget has doubled, their share has reached almost 15%. A new criterion for determining poverty is the minimum consumption expenditure. This made it possible to reconsider the minimum level of social payments and benefits. For example, in 2021, the minimum types of pensions and benefits for people with disabilities, as well as the amount of benefits for families who have lost a breadwinner will be increased to 50 percent.         

It was stressed that the establishment of effective cooperation, cooperation with a number of countries and international organizations is important in the process of taking the necessary measures and decisions to reduce the consequences of the pandemic.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the measures, goals and new approaches to poverty reduction in the SCO member states, the exchange of experience in reducing poverty, the organization of joint research by the SCO member states in relevant areas, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, prospects for the development of cooperation SCO member states in the field of poverty reduction.

During the meeting, the Uzbek side proposed the following measures to strengthen cooperation in the field of poverty reduction:

First, to establish continuous cooperation between the SCO member states in the field of poverty reduction, including the introduction of a mechanism for regular exchange of experience in this area and effective ways to reduce poverty;

Second, to consider the development and adoption of a document within the organization on poverty reduction in the interests of all SCO member states;

Third, to organize seminars, master classes and trainings for poverty reduction specialists in the SCO countries; these measures serve to introduce innovative tools to reduce poverty and increase their efficiency;

The sides also exchanged views on the priorities of the SCO member states.

The parties approved for further consideration the information of the Uzbek side on the organization of an international conference on poverty reduction within the SCO in May this year at the invitation of representatives of the SCO member states, observers and partners and accepted. It is also planned to invite experts from international financial institutions and organizations.

Following the meeting, the parties will consider the possibility of developing a draft memorandum of understanding on poverty reduction for the economic and social development of the SCO member states, taking into account the proposals, as well as poverty reduction, its effectiveness. agreed to organize conferences, seminars, master classes and trainings for poverty reduction specialists in the SCO countries concerned in order to introduce innovative tools for growth.

Information service of the

Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction