Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a video conference was held on 22 September on the implementation of the digital economy and e-government in industries and regions.

Today digital technologies are rapidly penetrating all areas of human life. States that have embarked on the path of digital development in a timely manner are making progress, and those countries that are operating in the old way are lagging behind progress.

As you know, 2020 has been declared in our country as the Year of Science, Education and Development of the Digital Economy, and large-scale work has begun in this direction. In particular, on 28 April, the President signed a decree "On measures for the widespread introduction of the digital economy and electronic government."

At today’s video conference meeting, the work carried out in this direction, as well as projects scheduled for implementation in the current year and in the first quarter of 2021, were considered.

- The heads of regions and industries are obliged to realize that without digitalization there will be no result, there will be no development. Leaders of all levels should define this issue as their daily task, deeply study the field of digitalization from the very beginning, - said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It was emphasized that by the end of this year, every industry and regional leader must make a radical turn in the digital economy. People should feel these transformations in reducing bureaucracy and corruption, accelerating the provision of public services.

Khokims of districts and cities 2-3 days a month will deal exclusively with digitalization issues. Their performance will be assessed based on the level of digitalization achieved in their region. Executives who achieve exemplary results will receive salary increases of up to 30 percent.

The head of state has repeatedly noted the need to digitize, first of all, those areas that people encounter most often, and thus make life easier for citizens. Based on this requirement, the working groups prepared 530 regional and 280 sectoral projects.

In particular, 239 projects will be implemented on the digitalization of healthcare, cadastre, social protection, agriculture, education in 14 districts by the end of this year and in 14 more districts in the first quarter of next year.

Thus, the introduction of the "Electronic Clinic" system will reduce paperwork in medical institutions by 40 percent, and the waiting time in a queue by 60 percent. For this, it is necessary to fully digitize central hospitals and polyclinics.

Today in the city of Tashkent electronic medical records, information systems for hospitals and ambulances are being introduced. It was noted that these software solutions will be launched next year in Andijan, Namangan, Ferghana, Jizzakh, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya and Khorezm regions. It was emphasized that in all regions it is necessary to introduce the systems "Electronic diary", "Electronic textbook", "Assessment of teachers".

The Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications was instructed to fully digitalize social institutions in 14 districts, and to form a model for the rest on their example.

Digitalization brings savings and efficiency to industries. For example, as a result of the introduction of a system for monitoring the load of trucks at gravel pits in Taylak and Akdarya regions, monthly revenue increased from 3 to 8 billion soums.

The State Tax Committee has been tasked with eradicating the "shadow economy" in the operation of open pits, including through the introduction of electronic control systems for excavation, workload and equipment movement.

At the meeting, special attention was paid to projects in industries.

“Without the digital economy, the country’s economy has no future,” the President noted.

Over the next three years, it is planned to implement 18 digitalization projects in the oil and gas and energy sectors, 12 projects in metallurgy, 9 in the automotive industry, 8 in the chemical industry, 4 projects in the mining and geological spheres.

For example, thanks to the introduction of an automated dispatching service at oil and gas enterprises - the Mubarek plant and the Shurtan complex - an opportunity has been created to save 50 million cubic meters of gas and 650 thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Asaka Automobile Plant could save $ 41 million through digitalization of logistics, procurement, transportation of raw materials and components. Among such promising projects is the introduction of an automated control system for the transport complex at the Yoshlik-1 and Kalmakyr fields of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine. This will save 28 billion soums a year.

The President identified those responsible for all projects and gave instructions on their timely and high-quality implementation, the allocation of funds attracted from international financial institutions.

The Prime Minister and his deputies were instructed to develop plans for the digitalization of the spheres and industries they oversee within ten days by the end of this year and next year.

The implementation and effective functioning of the digital economy, as you know, depends on specialists. Therefore, great importance is attached to training. Last year, the Park of Software Products and Information Technologies was built in Tashkent. Its branches are open in Andijan and Margilan. Another branch is being organized on the territory of the School of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi in Tashkent. In the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regions it is planned to open 205 schools with in-depth study of information technologies.

The Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications have been instructed to create 14 specialized schools this year and 82 such schools next year.

The importance of introducing a national system of training and certification of information technology teachers on the basis of the Tashkent University of Information Technologies and IT-parks was noted. Teachers who receive a qualification certificate will be paid a 50 percent salary increase. Bonuses will be established for school teachers whose students have successfully completed the One Million Programmers course.

“The issue being considered today is the most important basis for our work to develop and improve the life of our people,” the President said. - All leaders of regions and industries should realize this, change their outlook and thoroughly take on the tasks set.

The Prime Minister was instructed to monitor the implementation of the discussed measures in the context of industries and regions.

At the video conference, the khokims presented information on how digitalization projects will make life easier for citizens.