Key Priorities of Further Reforms

On December 26, 2025, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered his annual Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of the country. In his speech, the Head of State summarized the results of socio-economic development in 2025 and outlined the key priorities for further reforms.

The President noted that, despite the challenging global environment, Uzbekistan’s economy demonstrated steady growth and ranked among the top three CIS countries with the highest GDP growth rates by the end of 2025.

The country continued implementing major industrial and infrastructure projects, strengthening the social sector, and taking measures to reduce unemployment and improve the quality of life of the population. These processes were accompanied by increased export performance and strengthened macroeconomic stability, as well as notable international achievements — including Uzbekistan’s active participation in global summits and forums, the expansion of trade and economic cooperation, and the promotion of sports, cultural, and scientific initiatives.

The President emphasized that the achieved results are aligned with the objectives of the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy and demonstrate the consistent and systematic nature of the reforms being implemented.

One of the central themes of the Address was the declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Development of the Mahalla and Society. The Head of State stressed that in modern Uzbekistan the mahalla is viewed not merely as an administrative unit but primarily as a center of community life — a space for building social ties, mutual support, and trust. According to the President, it is at the mahalla level that citizens most directly experience the outcomes of ongoing reforms in infrastructure, social services, education, healthcare, and urban improvement. As the President noted: “A strong sense of belonging to the fate of the Motherland and to the mahalla — as close to everyone as a parental home — demonstrates that this institution serves as the foundation of unity in our society.”

In his Address, the President went beyond summarizing achievements and setting priorities. Significant attention was given to regional development, infrastructure projects, investment attraction, job creation, the development of green energy, social sustainability, the quality of public services, and the role of local communities. This reflects the country’s intention to align strategic national goals with the real living conditions of citizens and to build a more meaningful dialogue with society.

In this context, understanding public sentiment becomes particularly important, as it allows for assessing citizens’ attitudes toward large-scale transformations. The President emphasized that the country is entering a decisive stage in building the New Uzbekistan, requiring profound changes across all sectors and industries, with a clear objective — to enter the category of upper-middle-income countries in the coming years. Therefore, it is essential to understand to what extent ongoing reforms correspond to public expectations and receive public support.

Taking this into account, the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr” has launched a sociological survey entitled “Citizens’ Views on the Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the People of Uzbekistan.”

Within the framework of the study, special attention will be paid to examining processes taking place in mahallas, the level of trust in local institutions, citizens’ readiness to participate in public initiatives, and perceptions of the mahalla as a key channel of interaction between the state and society. The collected data will provide a deeper understanding of public attitudes and expectations in the context of implementing the priorities outlined in the Presidential Address.