At the meeting on January 23, President Mirziyoyev announced ideas for implementing a "social contract" system in "difficult" mahallas. This initiative implies that state support for infrastructure will depend on the activity of local residents. One of the key aspects of this plan will be the "solar reform": each of the 903 most vulnerable mahallas will receive a 300 kW solar power station free of charge. It is expected that such an installation will provide the local population with a clean income of up to 500 million sums (approximately 3.5 million dollars) per year, which can be directed towards improving living conditions and enhancing local areas.
Additionally, the president pointed out the need to change lending conditions for small businesses. In 2026, banks plan to allocate 140 trillion sums for these purposes. For the 37 most challenging districts, the interest rate on loans for family entrepreneurship will be reduced from 17.5% to 12%. Limits on preferential loans will also increase: up to 100 million sums can be obtained for purchasing cattle, and up to 150 million for opening guest houses or installing refrigeration equipment without the need for collateral. For mahallas located in border areas, the credit limit for business projects will increase to 1 billion sums.
Special attention is given to the initiatives of local leaders. The president stated his readiness to allocate up to 2 billion sums for road repairs and water supply for each mahalla if the chairman can increase household incomes by 3-4 times. Support will also extend to household farms: landowners will be reimbursed 50% of the costs for seedlings, and payments of 160,000 sums per hundred will be provided for the implementation of drip irrigation. Moreover, this year, 2,000 hectares of forest land will be allocated to low-income families for creating mulberry plantations and developing sericulture, supported by interest-free loans for necessary equipment. Thus, the government of Uzbekistan aims not just to distribute benefits but to create conditions for self-employment and sustainable growth of prosperity in every village.
