President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 7 December held a meeting on measures to train citizens in in-demand professions and provide access to high-paying jobs.
The president instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate strategies for simplifying visa procedures with countries like the UK, Germany, Canada, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand. These efforts aim to benefit citizens pursuing education, professional development or employment at advanced enterprises abroad.
Programs like Work and Travel, popular in developed countries, allow participants to combine study with work during holidays. Many young people from Uzbekistan already take part in such opportunities in Europe. To make these programs more accessible, Youth Affairs Agency will start offering loans to cover travel expenses for students starting next year.
Director of the agency Alisher Sadullayev told Gazeta.uz that this initiative would open doors for students who cannot afford the cost of participation.
“Given that most students lack the financial means for these programs, we will provide loans. Typically, students return from these programs with sufficient income to repay their debts. We are working to integrate this system with the national e-government portal to digitalize the entire process. Progress is ongoing, and a separate regulation may be developed in the future based on the situation,” Sadullayev explained.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by students navigating Work and Travel programs independently, such as document processing and obtaining permissions from educational institutions.
“If we digitalize these processes, a greater number of students will gain access to legal and reliable programs,” Sadullayev said.
Additionally, the president emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue with citizens of Uzbekistan working abroad. He stressed the need to create conditions for them to secure high-paying jobs while providing social and legal support.
