In his speech, the Head of state emphasized that corruption is the most serious obstacle to reforms. 

New laws have been adopted recently in response to this challenge, and a comprehensive anti-corruption system has been established. Specialized committees have been formed in both chambers of parliament, and institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Council and the Anti-Corruption Agency have been created.

Special attention was given to creating conditions where the public can openly raise and discuss the issue of corruption. The role and influence of mass media in this sphere are increasing significantly. 

The primary focus is on addressing the root causes of corruption. For example, eliminating the practice of land allocation based on hokims’ decisions and transitioning to an auction-based system has made the land distribution process more transparent. Similarly, introducing the “Shaffof Qurilish” program has led to positive changes in the construction sector. 

Adopting the Law on Public Procurement, digitalizing elections and tenders, and establishing fair competition helped save 14 trillion UZS in budget funds last year.

Currently, all banks provide consumer loans of up to 100 million UZS online within five minutes, without human involvement. As a result, thousands of bank employees who previously processed such applications are now working directly in mahallas, offering projects and loan programs, and contributing to the growth of the customer base. 

In the preschool and school education system, more than 10 types of services have been fully transitioned to electronic format, reducing the number of applications by 2.5 times. 

Higher education has also been digitalized: a system for taking exams and selecting universities based on test results has been introduced. At the same time, the automated issuance of 35 types of documents has reduced the number of applications by 2.2 times.

Corruption factors have been significantly reduced due to the use of body cameras by traffic safety inspectors, the auction-based sale of license plates, and the elimination of paper-based protocols. 

Public and business services have been organized based on the “state serving the people” principle: requirements for 120 types of documents have been abolished, along with more than 160 licenses and permits. As a result, nearly 200,000 new entrepreneurs have entered the market, and the number of businesses with foreign participation has increased almost fivefold, reaching 23,000. 

The number of electronic government services has increased 15 times, reaching 721, while the number of users has exceeded 11 million.

The most important outcome of these measures is the strengthened trust of the population, entrepreneurs, foreign partners, international organizations, and investors in the ongoing reforms. Over the past seven years, more than 0 billion in investments have been attracted, and the country’s economy has doubled, reaching 5 billion last year. 

The President emphasized that the fight against corruption is a continuous process and outlined key issues and future tasks in this area. 

Law enforcement agencies focus primarily on detecting and punishing corruption-related offenses, while preventive measures to eliminate corruption risks are often overlooked. 

In response, a decision was made to revise the working methodology of the Anti-Corruption Agency. As an experimental measure, compliance control in five agencies – the Ministries of Health, Construction, and Water Resources, as well as the joint-stock companies Uzbekneftegaz and Uzsuvta’minot – will be transferred to the agency.

In addition, a thorough study of factors contributing to petty and systemic corruption at the district level will be conducted. Concrete measures will be developed and submitted to the National Council based on the findings. 

Notably, 75 percent of corruption-related crimes occur in the form of petty corruption in districts and mahallas. To address this, the composition of regional anti-corruption councils will be completely restructured, with chairpersons of regional councils of people’s deputies appointed as their leaders. 

The regional councils will propose legislative changes to the National Council to eliminate corruption risks and ensure the inevitability of punishment.

Eight years ago, a sector-based system was introduced for the comprehensive development of territories, contributing to solving social and economic issues. In recent years, the potential of the regions has significantly increased. 

In this regard, it was decided that prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and tax authorities would no longer be involved in the activities of these sectors. Instead, additional tasks have been assigned to focus on crime prevention and law enforcement. 

Special attention was given to preventing corruption in public procurement. To address this, an Expert Commission will be established. Based on best practices, an electronic platform will be developed to ensure that prices for goods and services purchased through public procurement do not exceed the average market rates by more than 20 percent. Measures of accountability and fines will be introduced for violations of this requirement.

Requirements for the procurement of fixed assets using budget and extrabudgetary funds will also be tightened. When making purchases, government institutions prioritize domestically produced vehicles and furniture, and an anti-corruption compliance assessment will be mandatory for large-scale projects. 

The fight against corruption begins with selecting professional and dedicated personnel for public service. In this regard, instructions have been given to improve hiring and candidate evaluation procedures. 

The need to adopt a law on income declaration for public officials was emphasized, and a draft of this law will be submitted for public discussion.

The importance of instilling values of integrity in educational institutions was emphasized to nurture a new generation that is intolerant of corruption and the need to support youth initiatives. 

Addressing the public, the President stated that the fight against corruption is a national task and a matter of conscience for every country patriot. 

“If we all unite our efforts, we will achieve significant positive results. That is why mahalla activists, the older generation, intellectuals, writers and poets, artists and cultural figures, entrepreneurs, well-known public figures, leaders, deputies, and senators- all of society – must come together and view corruption as a ‘disease within society’”.

At the meeting, a dialogue was held with members of parliament, government representatives, and the public.

For the first time, an event of this format was held, demonstrating strong political will in the fight against corruption. 

The Head of state presented 55 specific initiatives, under which five laws, twelve decrees, and resolutions will be developed. Additionally, the role of parliament, the National and regional councils, and civil society institutions in combating corruption will be strengthened. 

The legal framework for fighting corruption will be reinforced: introducing a new income declaration system and measures to prevent illegal enrichment will help reduce corruption risks. The activities of the Anti-Corruption Agency and internal oversight structures within organizations will be expanded. 

The accountability of ministry and agency leaders in preventing petty corruption will be increased. A system for citizens to evaluate the quality of public services will be introduced, and strict measures will be taken against officials with the worst performance ratings.

The independence of oversight inspections will be strengthened, and mechanisms to prevent corruption will be introduced in large investment projects and auctions. 

By streamlining the public procurement system and limiting direct purchases, budget savings will be ensured, and the misuse of state funds will be prevented. 

Freed-up resources will be redirected toward crime prevention, leading to more excellent social stability and increased public trust. Strengthening prosecutorial oversight of unlawful inspections will improve the business and investment climate in the regions. 

The progress achieved will enhance Uzbekistan’s position in international rankings, and by 2027, conditions will be created for the country to submit its candidacy to host the UNCAC conference. 

Most importantly, legal awareness among the population, especially young people, will increase, fostering a sense of shared responsibility in the fight against corruption.