Today, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has delivered his annual State of the Union address to the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) and the people of Uzbekistan. This year, unlike previous years, the address is taking place in a time of instability and quandary that makes it more important.
“We are well aware that today all of humanity is experiencing a global crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the biggest global disaster in a century,” the President said.
“According to the latest data, more than 81 million people in 191 countries have contracted COVID-19, 1 million 765,000 died. The pandemic has crippled the global economy costing it $400 bn a month. To date, 500 mn jobs have been lost worldwide.
The unexpected menace has brought humanity to its knees. Moreover, natural disasters and man-made disasters in Bukhara and Sardoba became another test for Uzbekistan.
However, thanks to the unwavering faith, selfless work and steadfastness of Uzbeks have shown its results. From the first days of the pandemic, the entire management system, all medical institutions were transferred to emergency operation.
“30,000 medical beds were set in the city of Tashkent and the regions. Medical institutions are provided with the necessary medicines, modern means of protection and diagnostics. Over 200 thousand medical workers, as well as 150 foreign highly qualified doctors and specialists were involved in the fight against the pandemic”, continued president.
President Mirziyoyev said that the government has channeled nearly $8bn to mitigate and eliminate the consequences of the pandemic. Particularly, the newly formed Anti-Crisis Fund has received $1.5bn from the state budget to support the population and business suffered from COVID-19. The state-owned enterprises and more than 500,000 business entities, as well as 8mn people were given loan deferrals and financial assistance totaling $6.3bn.
The President thanked the international organizations that actively collaborated in repatriating Uzbek nationals that stranded abroad due to the global pandemic. “I would like to express my gratitude to the leaders of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, international financial institutions, the heads of state – Russia, China, the United States, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, Germany and other countries for the practical assistance provided in the fight against the pandemic.
It gives me pleasure to express my gratitude and best wishes to the distinguished ambassadors of foreign countries and representatives of international organizations, who make a worthy contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation with our country.
More than 600,000 thousand compatriots were returned home. Within the framework of the national movement “Kindness and Support” with the active participation of our generous compatriots, over 800 thousand low-income families received material assistance for more than $1 billion,” said President Mirziyoyev.