President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov today, on May 22, spoke at the Nation Congress on social mobilization “Zhany Kadam”.
The event, held at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic named after T. Satylganov, is attended by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and Head of the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov, the Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic Gulnara Baatyrova, as well as participants in the “Social Contract” program from all regions of the republic.
Text of the speech of the Head of State:
Dear participants of the all national conference!
Excellencies and representatives of the international partners!
Honorable deputies and members of the Governt!men
Today, citizens who receive social assistance based on the social contract from all over the country are gathered in this hall to discuss the serious issue of how we can unite all our forces for the progress and development of our people.
Social mobilization is a process in which all key stakeholders in society plan to work together to achieve a common goal.
This is, first of all, as the Kyrgyz proverb says, "Yrys aldy - yntymak", coming to harmony, aiming for a common goal!
This social mobilization is a public duty to unite and support our people.
I am also very glad to be able to participate in such a very important all-republican conference.
This morning we already heard valuable suggestions that were made to encourage our common work, and new ideas were generated.
I believe that we will draw the right conclusions from them and formulate plans that will bring results.
Dear participants of the conference!
In this important meeting, I want to share some of my own thoughts and reflect with you on our current challenges.
In January 2021, our nation elected me as the head of the state by entrusting me with the highest and most honorable responsibility.
You all remember what was the state of the country at the time when I took up this duty.
You are well aware that not only the consequences of the pandemic that shocked the world, but also the results of the most serious geopolitical conflicts in the last 80 years have been a very serious test for all of us over the last three years.
The most horrific peak of the pandemic in our country, known as "Deadly July or Dark July", is still very well remembered by all of us.
This was the most difficult test, the largest calamity that befell us during all of the years of our independence.
That's when we saw the true state of our country, the level of governance, of the public service competence, our medical sector was completely destroyed and disappeared, and we were entirely not ready for such a situation.
I look back at those days with trepidation.
At that time, there were really no funds in the state treasury.
It was a time when the previous administration borrowed 320 million dollars from abroad and spent that money on paying their wages and pensions, instead of preparing for the pandemic or compensating the people for the lock down.
So having come to power in such a turbulent times, the only choice I seriously had was to introduce very strong austerity measures. That’s what everyone said that we cannot increase public funding for medicine, education and other public services.
As you know, during my presidential term, I am faced with the task of servicing the peak of the foreign debt accumulated over the previous years by paying above 350-400 million dollars every year.
The international community was looking at the situation of Kyrgyzstan with a critical eye.
My advisers and assistants told me to cut the budget drastically and use all the money to pay down the national debt.
Of course, I couldn't agree to that.
Because I knew very well how difficult the life of ordinary people was.
After thinking hard and working together with my team, it is well known that instead of decreasing we have been able over the last three years to increase the state revenue by almost three times
We have doubled the volume of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Not only did we pay off debts, but we vastly increased salaries, pensions, and social payments.
We started building schools, kindergartens, and roads.
Many more large objects are being built today.
I will not dwell further on other indicators.
The most important thing is that we have not made our people even feel the burden of servicing the foreign debts of the state for the past three years.
From now on, we will pay off the foreign debt by strengthening the capacity of the state without neglecting our people
Dear Friends!
I do not wish to dwell on our achievements today.
I mean, I know very well that currently poverty, high cost of living, and unemployment are acute problems in our country.
I have been thinking, and I am concerned and worried every day..
I see that food prices are on the rise.
The price of a number of food products has almost doubled compared to 2022.
I already knew that we were entrusted with a country with a weak and even non-existent economy.
But when I came to power, I saw that we did not produce anything and could not produce anything, and I was deeply ashamed and angry.
Food security has been talked about for many years, but I found out that all this has remained empty talk.
We even had to import meat, fruits and vegetables from abroad.
You are well aware that the global prices of wheat, sugar, oil, fuel, fuel oil, diesel, construction materials and industrial goods have increased enormously in the world over the past two years.
With this, as a country dependent on imports and foreign economy, we experienced in 2021-2022 a wave of high prices, and global inflation greatly affected our country.
However, I am proud to say, that despite all the challenges, we managed to protect macroeconomic stability with great effort.
You remember that in April 2022, we significantly increased the salaries of teachers, doctors, social network and culture workers, municipal and state employees, employees of the law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and border guards.
In the last two years, Kyrgyzstan has been a leader in the Eurasian Economic Union in terms of real wage growth.
We have been able to prevent further deepening of poverty because wage growth has been higher than the rate of inflation.
However, I know very well that the current living conditions of many Kyrgyz families is still very difficult.
I know very well how difficult it is to send children to school, to put food on the table and to take good care of your loved ones.
I take the lives of our citizens who are in such hardship very very close to my heart.
And we can only imagine how difficult life is for our vulnerable population, people with disabilities, single mothers, and orphans.
Therefore, dear compatriots, ensuring food security, real improvement of living conditions and raising the standard of living of our people, ensuring our prosperity is my most important goal and most sacred task!
The goal set before us is supported by the predominant majority of our people.
This is evidenced by social surveys, including by the research of international pollsters.
Based on their results, it was revealed that even families whose lives deteriorated last year due to one reason or another, they choose to keep their trust in our policy.
The beliefs of these families that "yes, it is difficult for us now, but tomorrow will be better" gives me great strength, inspiration, and motivation to work hard to achieve my goals, to justify their hopes and beliefs.
Of course, I am deeply grateful to our people for such great faith and steadfast patience in the country's bright future.
Dear Participants of the Conference!
This year we are opening many new enterprises and industrial facilities in connection with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast.
Symbolically, we began to open 100 large objects for the 100th anniversary.
An example of this is the opening of the new airport, "Bala-Saruu" HPP during my visit to Talas yesterday.
In the second half of the year, we will start opening several such businesses every week.
This year, I have set the main task of creating jobs for the Government and local authorities.
Local authorities, republican bodies should support every small and large entrepreneur, whether it is a small workshop, a fruit processing plant, a tourist bed and breakfast, a cafe or a retail outlet.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
As you know, before I was elected as a deputy in 2005 and entering politics, I had been engaged in business.
I started early in the 1990s and I remember that it was very difficult to make a living, far from succeeding in business.
I mean, I know how hard it is to be an entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurs not only provide for themselves and their families, but also create jobs for others.
An employer spends sleepless nights worrying about how to pay salaries of his workers.
You know how difficult it is to do business: it requires patience, tireless work, day and night.
Ladies and gentlemen!
That is why, in March of this year, I signed a special decree on reducing the percentage of social payments from 27 percent to 12 percent for almost all small and medium-sized enterprises.
This is my wish to ease the burden of small and medium-sized businesses.
In addition, I am well aware of how many state inspection bodies have been obstructing businessmen.
A moratorium on businessmen's checks has already been announced.
However, in order to further help entrepreneurs, I introduced another strict moratorium on inspections at the beginning of the year.
I have always warned the responsible managers: "Let our businessmen develop and build up themselves, don't bother with the pretext of inspection, don't harass them!".
And today, you also know that due to the determined efforts of General Kamchybek Tashiev, public order and security has been established in the country with the elimination of organized crime.
The state will not pretend any more that they don’t see or hear of honest businessmen being extorted.
Any attempts to extort money by bandits, large or small, are to be immediately dealt with, investigated and brought to justice.
I would like to remind you once again that those who threaten and demand money, not only private businessmen, but any private citizen will be severely punished under the law.
Dear compatriots!
Today we are setting before ourselves very ambitious goals.
Under the leadership of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, in the coming years, it is necessary to accelerate the growth rate of the economy and to expand the economy by more than two times by 2030, that is, to bring the volume of our gross domestic product to 30 billion dollars.
I have very strong hopes that we will achieve this goal.
With a God willing, we will certainly reach this goal with the support of our people and business community!
Most importantly, such a result should establish the basis for taking our national economy to 200 billion US dollars by 2050.
We can call these ambitious goals - our common great task, our joint priority, a national dream!
Dear Friends,
We have now left the ranks of poor countries.
Now we should become a strong and prosperous country.
In the same way, I think that every entrepreneur today should set ambitious goals and objectives.
Then we will achieve national development with the united and harmonious efforts of the state, the people, business and community, all strata of the urban and rural population!
Dear brothers and sisters!
Our efforts in the field of development are aimed at increasing the standard of living of all sections of the population, every individual citizen.
From now on, it should not be the case that only a few circles and a handful of groups get rich.
Until now, the neoliberal ideology spread that the "invisible hand" of the market economy will create a miracle of development by itself, make us all happy, and make our country prosperous.
We have wasted far too many years by blindly believing this false doctrine.
You know that there are these stereotypes such as "the state is a bad manager" and "the government cannot play any role in the economy".
We have witnessed that this view is a false ideology that is against the interests of the state and of the common people. That there will be no national development with such thinking. On the contrary, our country was robbed and plundered, and it almost self-destructed.
Just imagine, that being dependent on the foreign remittances of our migrant workers, we have become a world number one for the enormous role of these remittances in our economy.
Our common people: men and women, young and old, forced to leave their parents and young children here to find living in foreign countries.
How can we forget that so many of our citizens have spread around the world looking for work?
We will not allow such phenomena to continue.
The state from now on works for the people and for the people only.
Today, I can say with confidence that every decision, every law and every resolution of the state bodies is being adopted in the interest of the whole nation, not for someone’s personal interest or the interest of a few people or families.
I very much admire the motto of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: "Leave no one behind!" I like this slogan.
God willing, we will not leave anyone behind anymore!
Dear Kyrgyz citizens!
Currently, we are constantly looking for ways to fight and reduce poverty.
Our nation has been able to prove over the centuries its determination, creativity, and endurance to the difficult trials of life in achieving great goals.
I will not be mistaken if I say that the most enterprising representatives of our country have come to this hall today.
Those who participated in the "Social Contract" program can be said to be a shining example of trying to radically change their lives, striving for creativity, and willpower.
We started the "Social contract" program three years ago with the participation of only 100 people from Kadamzhai district of Batken region and Jumgal district of Naryn region.
We watched and waited impatiently to see if it would give the desired result.
The pilot project targeted households living in poverty and receiving child benefits.
Encouraging such citizens to open their own business and create an independent family income was precisely the task of the "Social Contract" project.
As a result of this experiment, when all 100 families began to receive income, the effectiveness of the project became known, and we took the next step - to spread the project throughout the republic.
Thus, today, thanks to the Social Contract, almost 13,000 people have implemented their business ideas, created jobs, and made a real contribution to the development of their families and local communities.
Today, the social contract has directly benefited more than 70,000 people and contributed to providing them with a sufficient life!
If we analyze the results of two years, it is known that more than 77 percent of the participants of "Social Contract" receive weekly income up to 5,000 soms, and more than 22 percent receive weekly income up to 10,000 soms.
This is proof of economic results and achievement for both the participants in the social contract and for the state as a whole!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the employees of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, field experts and activists who implemented this program.
Dear compatriots!
We are currently aiming to eliminate multidimensional poverty.
Together with international partners led by the United Nations, including the World Food Program, UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Program, and other international organizations, our country is working on eradicating multidimensional poverty that exists or is caused by lack of access to education, medicine, public services, and public security or information.
Time is too short today for me to list all of our efforts and tell them in detail.
However, I would like to say that the issue of transformation of school education is the highest priority, and it is under my personal control.
We don't call this program "Polar Star" for nothing.
Economics, finance, agriculture and any other state programs revolve around this guiding star and depend on our success in education reforms.
We know very well that the most important priority of the republic, the most important investment, our most valuable and sacred national dream, our most stable and direct path to prosperity is realized through educated youth.
We are aiming for our children to have a world-class education and skills that will allow them to take a worthy place in the global labor market and be competitive with their peers from around the world.
I call not only every state and local leader, every legislator, but every parent, every citizen, and every activist to support the school transformation.
We must move forward with the pursuit of a decent future!
Honorable contemporaries!
Today I will talk about a number of tasks that I have set before the government, as well as some results of the ongoing work.
When our citizens get old and come of age, they are faced with poverty, and when they have to count every penny and save everything, this causes great concern and pity from all of us.
It is also correct to say that the means of not allowing a decent life at the retirement age is the pinnacle of injustice.
For this very reason, when the Constitution was being amended in 2021, we included a constitutional guarantee that the amount of pensions and state allowances should not be below of the minimum standard of living.
Our dear elders!
I am happy to announce to you that from October 1 of this year, all pensions assigned by the Social Fund will be in the amount abover the minimum standard of living or at least 6,800 soms.
I have requested to expedite this deadline.
God willing, the first phase of pension increase will begin on July 1.
We will continue the work in this direction.
We will work hard to quickly bring our social security payments and benefits above the living wage.
Yes, of course, it will take a few years, but we will definitely reach this goal as well!
Recently, we launched a 500,000 som "Contribution to the Future" children's savings account for orphans.
When each orphan turns 18, they are to receive 500,000 soms.
These funds can be used by children for educational purposes and as a down payment for a mortgage.
We spare nothing from our children, and we will continue to seek improvement in their lives!
When the time comes, we will put everything in its place.
Hopefully, we will also increase the amount of monthly social support payments for our children.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Recently, we have noticed an increase in violence against children and similar unpleasant facts.
The state will not and cannot ignore this issue.
We are responsible for the well-being of every child!
Therefore, on the eve of June 1 - the International Children's Rights Day, I announce establishing around the country 550 new full-time social worker jobs, specially assigned with the well being of children.
We prove with real action our words that we have no right to save money on children. Thus we significantly will increase the number of staff working with children.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Resolute work in the direction of providing our citizens with housing is in full swing.
The construction of multi-storey buildings through the State mortgage company has given not only public sector employees, but also private individuals the opportunity to get an apartment on a mortgage basis.
11,495 apartments are being built across the country, and 5,503 waiting families will be given apartments by the end of this year.
In addition, we have started working with a special program for our citizens who can pay 50 percent in advance.
If 50 percent is paid in advance, 50 percent will be paid by the state with a 15-year mortgage.
This will not be an obstacle for our citizens who are already waiting in line.
The queue of our citizens who have been waiting for a long time will not be broken.
Also, construction of 12,000 apartments will begin by the end of this year.
Dear compatriots!
I also want to add on the fate of our youths.
If we see a child in trouble, in a difficult life situation, let's inform the state social agency, let's not forget that if we act indifferently, we will face a sad situation.
I believe that this is the duty of every state and municipal employee, every patriotic citizen of the country.
Every baby, every child, every teenager in Kyrgyzstan should be under the care of the state and each of us.
It is a duty to take care of every child in our Motherland!
As you all know, many problems in the healthcare sphere remain unresolved.
Today, the President's Administration is drafting some serious short- and medium-term plans.
However, our people cannot wait for the implementation of such promising big plans that will give effect in the long term.
As an immediate and urgent measure, from July 1, I order to increase from 200 to 500 the number of doctors within the framework of the additional incentive program for doctors working in health care facilities in distant areas, small towns and rural areas.
Also, the quarterly amount of the doctor's deposit should be increased from 38,000 soms to 66,000 soms.
Taking into account the shortage of doctors in the regions of the republic, as an emergency measure, I order to introduce an additional monthly payment of 20,000 soms to pediatricians, neonatologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists and emergency room doctors outside Bishkek and .
Today, we do not have enough young doctors.
In fact, we see that there is a lack of young medics not only in distant or mountainous regions, but also in oblast centers.
Therefore, I oblige to introduce special monthly payments of 20,000 soms to attract and encourage clinical residents and junior doctors undergoing internship.
This is just a list of emergency immediate measures in healthcare.
As I said earlier, I would like to emphasize that the Presidential Administration is currently considering medium and long-term steps not only in the field of medical care, but also in other fields.
The most important thing is that if we work together, I believe that our state will increase its ability to fulfill its social obligations year after year.
Dear participants of today's event!
Most importantly, we are investing in human capital, be it education or healthcare.
Because human capital is our greatest asset.
Therefore, we are starting the "Zhany Kadam (New Step)" social mobilization movement, which unites thousands of people from all regions of our country.
A small spring must gradually turn into a mighty river.
I need to emphasize that our women are at the very heart of this movement.
More than 13,000 people participated in the "Social Contract", almost 95% of them are women.
This proves that the heroes of our time - our sisters - are active in creating a family economy.
Also, Kyrgyz women are distinguished by their independence, free character, and the fact that they can take responsibility for the fate of their family and people no less and along with men.
We celebrate your success, dear sisters!
Deep respect for you!
Dear compatriots!
The social contract program has proven its effectiveness.
We will expand the scope of such measures.
This year, it is planned to allocate 2 billion soms for the implementation of the Social Contract.
In addition, we are also looking at various new formats of the Social Contract that will enable us to get out of poverty.
For example, a loan of 200,000 soms at the lowest interest rate is being considered for the top 600 people who successfully implemented the social contract.
The Cabinet of Ministers has the task of halving the poverty of families with many children.
This is a very complex and comprehensive problem, the solution of which should be systematic.
It is very important that all measures taken are useful, provide tangible results for our citizens, and improve the quality of life of families.
Local authorities have an important role in the implementation of the "Social Contract" agreement.
Because the participants of the "Social Contract" not only improve the economic well-being of their families, but also contribute to the development of the region's economy.
Therefore, the task of local authorities is to create conditions and opportunities for business development of the participants of the "Social Contract".
When we talk about the importance of supporting families here, we are not talking about allocation of funds from the local budget or transfer of food packages.
Support should be systematic and contribute to business development.
I would like to use the opportunity of today's meeting to address our members of parliament led by the Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh.
A number of important legislative initiatives aimed at the development of the social sector and the advancement of the economy are being submitted to the parliament, so please provide your support and adopt these documents within June before you break out for summer holidays.
I hope that you will support and promptly accept initiatives aimed at improving people's standard of living.
Dear participants of the "Social contract"!
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your hard work and the steps you take to change the lives of your family, neighbors and friends.
You are creating jobs, allowing others to come out of poverty.
Hopefully, these efforts will gradually continue like a chain and improve the lives of thousands of people.
You have become the engine and creator of the new generation of entrepreneurs who have broken the old stereotypes that have been formed, and started with the family economy, taking confident steps towards the comprehensive construction of a developed society.
You master new directions and industries and implement creative business ideas.
Among you are many developers of green production, IT industry and educational projects.
Of course, your achievements make us proud.
By encouraging others, the belief that we can do everything together becomes even stronger.
I am proud to note that our success with the Social Contract has been recognized at the level of the United Nations as one of the most effective models for overcoming poverty in the world, and has been proposed to solve the socio-economic problems of other countries.
We have been able to prove that we are capable of solving the most difficult problems and responding to the most difficult challenges with our unity.
Hopefully, Kyrgyzstan will set an example to other low income countries in overcoming poverty.
Dear participants of today's meeting!
Our compatriots - true patriotic sons and daughters of Kyrgyzstan - are also participating in the development of this beautiful country.
They are building schools, roads, bridges, libraries and kindergartens, which are of great importance to the social environment, and are financing and opening them from their own pockets.
This is a sign of our patriotism, which is ready to come to the rescue and support the state in times of trouble, that the generosity, and open-handed character left to us by our ancestors have been preserved and passed on to the next generation.
Such actions will unite our society and contribute to the development of our country.
I sincerely thank you for your contribution to the development of the Motherland.
Fortunately, we were able to embark on the path of sustainable development.
However, it is known that many difficulties and challenges of modern times lie ahead.
On such a difficult road, it is quite possible that unexpected and dangerous things will happen.
We must defeat them!
Let us always be friendly and keep our unity strong.
Let's not be tempted by miscreants and scoundrels who want to rot from the inside and rot from the outside.
The most important thing is that our state should continue to strengthen and help develop our country!
If our nation is united, our people are united, we will overcome all difficult trials!
Thank you for your attention!
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