The educational manual titled 'Diplomatic Etiquette for Executives' was published by Nurillo Toxtasinov, senior lecturer of the Department of Public Administration at Tashkent State Law University, and Muhammadnur Murodkhonov, a fourth-year student of the same university and recipient of the Navoi State Scholarship.
As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized, the development of entrepreneurship is a strategic task for the country. He noted that the foundation, support, and main strength of the state are embodied precisely in this sphere.
Therefore, supporting entrepreneurs must become the daily duty of all managers, from central support centers to the lowest levels of management.
A fundamental shift is occurring in global demography. While concerns several decades ago were focused on excessive population growth, the primary threat today is the sharp decline in birth rates and population aging.
To maintain demographic stability and prevent natural population decline, an average rate of 2.1 children per woman is required. However, more than half of the world's population lives in countries where this safe rate is lower.
The most serious consequences of the crisis are visible in Asia and Europe. In South Korea, which was considered an absolute record holder for the process, the fertility rate hovers around 0.7. High real estate costs, intense competition in the labor market, and the expenses of raising children force young people to forgo starting a family and having children.
In Japan, which has become one of the oldest nations, this figure is approximately 1.2, and the country's population is shrinking by hundreds of thousands annually. China, which long pursued the 'One child, one family' policy, has also fallen into a severe demographic trap: the fertility rate reached 1, and the population began to decrease. As a result, India has taken the position of having the largest population.
The situation in Europe is also critical: the average birth rate across the continent is 1.46. For example, Italy (1.2) and Spain (1.16) are facing serious population aging. In the USA, the rate is 1.6, and the demographic balance is mainly maintained through external immigration.
The sharp drop in birth rates worldwide is linked to several interconnected factors. Firstly, urbanization and the high cost of living in cities place significant pressure on family budgets. Secondly, as women receive higher education and have more opportunities for career advancement, the age of marriage is noticeably postponed. Thirdly, family and personal values are changing: among the younger generation, the tradition of living without children or limiting themselves to one child is becoming popular.
The demographic crisis entails serious economic and social consequences. The reduction in the workforce and the increase in the number of pensioners create unprecedented strain on state budgets and pension systems. Economic growth and innovation rates are slowing down, and due to a lack of children, schools and kindergartens are closing, while the demand for nursing homes is increasing.
Despite developed countries (South Korea, Japan, and European countries) allocating huge financial resources and providing tax incentives to stimulate birth rates, these efforts have not yet yielded the expected results. In regions such as Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, and in Africa, high birth rates persist. Consequently, a sharp change in the balance of economic power in the world and the direction of global labor migration is possible in the near future.
As part of the nationwide event 'Month of Beautification and Generosity' in observance of the 35th anniversary of independence, people's deputies held open meetings with residents in the mahallas of the Syrdaryo district of the Syrdarya region.
The deputy of the Syrdaryo District Council, Professor Ravshan Mahmudov, visited the mahallas of Quyosh and Elobod to personally familiarize himself with the problems causing concern among the people, listen to their opinions, and determine practical steps for their resolution. These meetings were not official gatherings but were aimed at practically solving pressing issues.
During conversations with citizens in the Quyosh mahalla, the issue of improving the infrastructure of educational institutions was raised. In particular, it was noted that the schoolyard of the 25th general educational institution needs asphalt paving. An agreement was reached to submit a deputy inquiry to the relevant ministries and agencies for the prompt resolution of this problem.
In the Elobod mahalla, during communication with residents, information was received about families in need of social protection, and their needs were studied. The necessity of replacing old wooden electrical poles on Bosht Street with modern concrete supports was also identified. Regarding this matter, it was decided to assign specific tasks to the relevant organizations and submit a deputy inquiry.
During the meetings, citizens' proposals regarding road infrastructure, quality of utility services, improvement works, and social issues were discussed comprehensively. It was emphasized that practical measures must be taken for each appeal with the participation of responsible persons.
It is stressed that the main criterion for evaluating a deputy's work is not the decisions made, but the practical resolution of problems that concern the population. Therefore, such open dialogues play an important role in timely identifying current issues in the regions, strengthening parliamentary oversight, and building public trust in state bodies.
These meetings in the mahallas once again confirmed that territorial development begins with listening to the problems that concern the population, studying them on site, and solving these problems through concrete practical measures.
