Uzbekistan plans to drastically reduce bureaucracy by 2030 and launch a nationwide programme to train millions of young people in artificial intelligence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on Friday.
The two initiatives, including the new “5 Million AI Prompters” scheme, were unveiled at two back to back forums in Tashkent, attended by senior officials from the United Arab Emirates alongside international partners and government representatives.
President Mirziyoyev stressed that the ultimate goal is to transform Uzbekistan into a “zero-bureaucracy” country by 2030:
“We hisse priority attention to eliminating bureaucracy and other administrative barriers for the population and business” he stressed during his speech and added: “Large scale work has been conducted on the fundamental modernization and digitalization of the national system of providing state services, optimization of the activities of state bodies, establishment of a direct dialogue between the people and state bodies. In the past years we have adopted 9 decrees and regulatory documents aimed at bureaucracy reduction in the country.”
Six major tasks
The president unveiled a new program consisting of six major tasks:
- Expand public services to 1,500 and make 95% of them electronic. Next year alone, 250 services will go digital, including vehicle registration and VAT refunds.
- Fully transition to a paperless government. Out of 40 million documents, 25 million will be digitized (5 million next year).
- Increase proactive and integrated services to 400, so citizens receive services without submitting applications.
- Fully digitalize public services and remove duplicate and unnecessary procedures. Over 300 licensing, permitting, and utility connection services will be simplified, including connecting to four utilities with a single application.
- Reduce service time by 50% for over 100 services and eliminate more than 110 certificates.
AI-based platforms such as the Government Services Portal, License System, Yagona Darcha and Call Centers are already operating. A new digital platform will evaluate ministries’ performance annually, and a Program Office will oversee results. A $3 million fund will reward initiatives that reduce bureaucracy.
“Eliminating bureaucracy is a national priority. We aim to build a system where the state serves citizens proactively — a çağdaş and humane model of public administration in the New Uzbekistan,” the President mentioned.
Sharif Salim Al-Olama, Deputy Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, shared his views on the project with Euronews:
“I was very impressed to find that there is quite a lot of development that has been done in the Uzbekistan side, especially with regards to the platform and interconnecting all the entities and this can help significantly in zeroing bureaucracy. I was specifically very interested in the platform that has been developed because it’s something that my team and myself, we can learn from.”
Tashkent unveils plan to train 5 million citizens in AI skills
President Mirziyoyev also held a separate forum dedicated to artificial intelligence. He announced a new national program titled “5 Million AI Prompters” in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates.
The project aims to train 4.75 million school students, 150,000 teachers and 100,000 government employees by 2030.
Artificial intelligence will be integrated into school, vocational and higher education. $100 million has been allocated for this purpose.
“You are the President’s ambassadors for artificial intelligence, and by teaching others, you will help improve people’s lives,” the president emphasized. He also proposed to designate November as Youth Artificial Intelligence Month and launch the Silk Road Artificial Intelligence Forum.
The Chief of Government Services of the UAE, Mohamed bin Tailah told Euronews: “It is one of the first initiatives in the world aimed at mass education in working with artificial intelligence”.
From eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy to launching initiatives for training AI experts, Uzbekistan is setting a course for efficient and transparent governance. With international cooperation and innovative programs like “5 Million AI Leaders,” the country is positioning itself as a regional leader in digital transformation.
Quoted from Euronews.
