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PP-61 — February 14, 2025

"Step into the Future" Center

Program to assist higher education graduates with employment

80 mln $ For credits
20 mln $ Grants & internships
10 yil Repayment period
3 yil Grace period

Purpose and basis of the Presidential decree

Presidential Decree PP-61

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 14, 2025 No. PP-61 "On additional measures to assist graduates of higher educational institutions in finding employment."

The following priority tasks have been defined with the aim of ensuring youth employment, strengthening the integration of higher education graduates into the labor market, and improving the process of personnel training with the participation of the private sector and commercial banks.

Main directions of the "Step into the Future" program

A

For business idea owners

Final-year students and graduates who finished university no more than 3 years ago

Full support from business idea to a ready project

Financing on favorable terms through authorized banks

Grant funding for the best startups and innovative projects

B

Open competition and employment

Final-year students — open competitions by sector

Identifying the needs of prospective employers and large enterprises for qualified specialists

Initial professional training of competition winners under individual educational programs

Production internships and short-term courses at foreign universities

Financing terms

80 mln $
Credit funds

From the Reconstruction and Development Fund to authorized banks — equivalent of USD 80 million.

For 10 years
3-year grace period
At the Central Bank base rate
20 mln $
Grant funds

Non-repayable funds — for internships and the best startups.

Covering production internship costs
For the best startups and innovative projects
Non-repayable — no return required

Program implementation procedure

1
Establishment of centers

The program is implemented through "Step into the Future" centers organized by JSC "Uzbekmillibank" in regions, including on an outsourcing basis.

2
All universities are participants

All higher educational institutions are program participants and conclude cooperation agreements with the Centers on assisting students with employment.

3
Identifying needs

The practice of identifying the needs of prospective employers and large enterprises for highly educated specialists and shaping requirements for specialists is established.

4
Professional preparation

The initial professional preparation of competition winners under individual professional educational programs according to the order of prospective employers is financed.

5
Internships and international courses

Individual professional educational programs provide opportunities for internships at production facilities and participation in short-term training courses at foreign universities.

Video about the "Step into the Future" program

"Step into the Future" — official video