President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was born in the Zaamin District of the Jizzakh Region in Uzbekistan on July 24, 1957. Coming from a family of doctors, Mirziyoyev showed great passion for education. He graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers with a degree in mechanical engineering and earned a Ph.D. in Technical Sciences.
In 1981, Mirziyoyev began working at his alma mater. Over the years, he held various positions at the university, being promoted over the years from Junior Research Fellow up to Vice Rector of Academic Affairs.
President of Uzbekistan entered the political sphere in 1990 after being elected as deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic (later renamed Oliy Majlis, Parliament), where he served as the Chairman of the Credentials Committee. In 1992, Mirziyoyev assumed the position of Khokim (mayor) of the Mirzo Ulugbek District in the country’s capital, Tashkent. Subsequently, from 1996 to 2001, he served as Khokim (governor) of the Jizzakh Region, followed by a term as Khokim of the Samarkand Region from 2001 to 2003. Shavkat Mirziyoyev made significant contributions to the social and economic improvement of these regions during the aforementioned periods.
During his tenure as Khokim in the executive branch, in 1995-2003, Mirziyoyev also held the post of Deputy of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He actively contributed to the drafting and adoption of important legislative acts regarding the political and socio-economic development of the country, as well as to the implementation of democratic reforms.
In 2003, Mirziyoyev was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and was reconfirmed by both Chambers of the Oliy Majlis three more times: in 2005, 2010 and 2015.
As Prime Minister, he implemented extensive socio-economic reforms, advancing the modernization and development of Uzbekistan, and achieved significant results through impactful projects. Further, he encouraged the spread of private property, significantly boosting the presence of small businesses and private enterprises in the economy and strengthening their legal protection.
Prior to his election as President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev had prioritized economic development in the industrial sector and enhancing the country’s export potential. He fundamentally transformed the agricultural sector, particularly by facilitating the growth of farming enterprises and the processing of agricultural products, making the production cycle more value-added domestically. His focus also encompassed ensuring food security for the nation by guaranteeing a reliable supply of affordable commodities for the population. Later, as the President of Uzbekistan, he achieved a significant human rights milestone by abolishing forced and child labor in the cotton industry.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded with the Order “Mekhnat Shukhrati” (‘Glory of Labor’) and “Fidokorona Khizmatlari Uchun” (‘For Selfless Service’) in recognition of his merits and significant contribution to the development of the country and enhancement of people’s well-being.
Following the passing of the former president Islam Karimov, Shavkat Mirziyoyev was nominated as a candidate for the presidential elections during the Eighth Convention of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen (Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan) in Tashkent on October 19, 2016. He secured a sweeping victory in the presidential elections with 88.61% of the vote, and was officially inaugurated on December 14, 2016.
On October 24, 2021, Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed office as President of Uzbekistan for a second five-year term with 80.1% of the vote, enabling him to continue reforms and expand Uzbekistan’s participation in foreign trade and investment. In July 2023, Mirziyoyev was re-elected for a third term as the President of Uzbekistan in an early election Upon election, he approved the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan, with the aim of earning the country an upper-middle-income status by 2030 and reducing poverty by 50% by 2026.In order to enhance the quality of public services and increase integration of urban and rural areas, Mirziyoyev has implemented effective measures to promote large-scale construction and improvement projects throughout the country, with the underlying goal of improving citizens’ living and working conditions.
The Uzbek President Mirziyoyev has placed significant emphasis on advancing education, science, and healthcare, alongside socio-economic development. Initiatives in this sphere have been undertaken with the purpose of fostering an environment conducive to the development of a robust and well-rounded younger generation and ensuring the protection of motherhood and childhood. He has devoted considerable efforts to strengthening a Uzbek institution of self-government called “makhalla” (community-based local level organizations), and other public organizations. He succeeded in reinforcing the role of these communities by encouraging their active participation in democratic reforms. Additionally, he emphasized the need for the preservation and enrichment of national spiritual values.
At the same time, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been working to foster extensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with other nations, international organizations, and financial institutions. This includes negotiating agreements that align with democratic reforms and the economic development of the country. As President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s most notable achievements include liberalizing the economy, increasing the efficiency and transparency of the government, and improving the country’s human rights record.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev is married to Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, the First Lady of Uzbekistan, who is an industrial engineer by education. The couple has three children.