Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Singapore

Shavkat Mirziyoyev: There can be no economic future without digital economy

On September 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference on implementation of digital economy and e-government in industries and regions.

Digital technologies are rapidly penetrating all areas of human life. States that have embarked on the path of digital development in a timely manner are making progress, while those that are working in the old way are lagging behind.

As is known, 2020 has been declared as the Year of Science, Enlightenment and the Digital Economy Development in Uzbekistan, and large-scale work has begun in this direction. In particular, on April 28, the President signed a Resolution “On measures for widespread introduction of digital economy and e-government”.

Activities carried out in this direction, as well as projects planned for the implementation this year and in the first quarter of 2021 were considered at the meeting.

“Heads of regions and industries must realize that there will be no result and no development without digitalization. Managers at all levels should define this issue as their daily task, and thoroughly study the sphere of digitalization from the very basics” – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It was emphasized that by the end of this year, every leader of the industry and region should make a radical turn in digital economy. People should feel these changes in reducing bureaucracy and corruption, and speeding up the provision of public services.

Khokims of districts and cities will deal exclusively with digitalization issues 2-3 days a month. Their activity will be evaluated based on the level of digitalization achieved in their region. Managers who achieve exemplary results will receive salary bonuses of up to 30 percent.

The Head of the state has repeatedly noted the need for digitalization, first of all, those areas that people face most often, and thus make life easier for citizens. Based on this requirement, working groups prepared 530 regional and 280 industry projects.

In particular, 239 projects on digitalization of healthcare, cadaster, social protection, agriculture and education will be implemented in 14 districts by the end of this year and in 14 more districts in the first quarter of the next year.

Thus, the introduction of e-polyclinic system will reduce paperwork in medical institutions by 40 percent, and waiting time in the queue by 60 percent. To do this, it is necessary to completely digitize central hospitals and clinics.

Today, electronic medical records and information systems for hospitals and ambulances are being introduced in Tashkent. It was noted that these software solutions will be launched next year in Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Jizzakh, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions. It was emphasized that in all regions it is necessary to introduce e-diary, e-textbook and teacher evaluation systems.

The Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications has been instructed to fully digitalize social institutions in 14 districts and form a model for the rest on their example.

Digitalization provides savings and efficiency in economic sectors. For example, as a result of implementation of a system for monitoring the load of trucks at gravel pits in Toyloq and Oqdaryo districts, monthly revenue increased from 3 to 8 billion UZS.

The State Tax Committee was tasked with eliminating shadow economy in the operation of quarries, including through introduction of electronic systems for monitoring excavation, loading and movement of equipment.

Special attention was paid to projects in industrial sectors.

“There can be no economic future without digital economy” – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Over the next three years, it is planned to implement 18 digitalization projects in the oil-gas and energy sectors, 12 projects in metallurgy, 9 in the automotive industry, 8 in the chemical industry, and 4 projects in the mining and geological sectors.

For example, thanks to introduction of an automated dispatching service at the oil and gas industry enterprises – Mubarek Plant and Shurtan Complex – it is possible to save 50 million cubic meters of gas and 650 thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Asaka Automobile Plant can save $41 million by digitalizing logistics, purchasing and transporting raw materials and components. The introduction of an automated control system for transport complex at Yoshlik-1 and Kalmakyr fields of Almalyk Mining Metallurgical Complex is among such promising projects. This will allow to save 28 billion UZS per year.

The President identified those responsible for all the projects and gave instructions on their timely and qualitative implementation and allocation of funds raised from international financial institutions.

The Prime Minister and his deputies were instructed to develop plans for digitalization of industries within ten days before the end of this and the next year.

Introduction and effective functioning of digital economy, as is known, depends on specialists. Therefore, training is important. Last year, a Park of Software Products and Information Technologies was built in Tashkent. Its branches have been opened in Andijan and Margilan. Another branch is being organized at Muhammad al-Khwarizmi School of Information Technology in Tashkent. It is planned to open 205 schools with in-depth study of information technologies in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regions.

The Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications have been instructed to create 14 special schools this year and 82 such schools next year.

The importance of implementing the national system of training and certification of information technology teachers based on Tashkent University of Information Technology and IT Parks was noted. Teachers who have received a qualification certificate will be paid a 50% salary supplement. School teachers whose students have successfully completed one million programmers course will be awarded bonuses.

“The issue under consideration today is the most important foundation of our work for development and improving people’s lives” – said the President. – All heads of regions and industries should realize this, change their worldview and take on the task thoroughly.

The Prime Minister was instructed to monitor the implementation of discussed measures in the context of industries and regions.

At the meeting, hokims presented information on digitalization projects.

UzA