At a ceremonial event held at the Kuksaroy residence to mark International Women's Day, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the women of Uzbekistan and emphasized their key role in societal development and family strengthening. He stated that a new system for protecting women's rights and interests has been established in the country, and laws are now required to consider their impact on gender equality.

In his address, the president highlighted the growth in women's economic and social activity. Currently, the country has nearly 230,000 women entrepreneurs, over 12,000 women farmers, and more than 6,000 women scientists. He also noted the achievements of Uzbek sportswomen, who won 167 gold, 193 silver, and 243 bronze medals at international competitions last year.

Special attention was given to supporting women's employment. Last year, 23.5 trillion soums in loans were allocated for the development of women's entrepreneurship, enabling more than 425,000 women to start their own businesses. This year, plans include providing income sources for about 1.5 million women and attracting 400,000 of them to entrepreneurship.

The president also mentioned the expansion of educational opportunities for girls. Today, over 904,000 female students are enrolled in the country's universities, accounting for 54 percent of the total student population. Starting from the new academic year, the number of state grants for girls from needy families will double to 4,000.

At the conclusion of the event, state awards were presented to women who have made significant contributions to the country's development. Additionally, 28 talented girls received the Zulfiya State Prize. The president expressed confidence that the active role of women will be an important factor in the further development of New Uzbekistan.

Source: kun.uz