Uzum has become the first national IT company to sign a memorandum of cooperation with UNDP in Uzbekistan. As part of the partnership, Uzum and UNDP specialists will train representatives of vulnerable segments of the population throughout the country in the basics of financial literacy and entrepreneurship. 

Despite the active growth of digital financial services and online commerce in the country, the penetration of banking and financial services and the level of digital literacy remain points of growth - especially in remote regions and small towns of the country. The development of digital platforms and the high share of Internet penetration in Uzbekistan create new opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship and the creation of new jobs. So, today more than 10 thousand companies and entrepreneurs from all over the country sell their goods on Uzum Market, and more than 30% of them are women. 

Uzum and UNDP share a common interest in addressing the shortage of digital and financial literacy skills among the unemployed women and young people. The implementation of joint educational programs and the use of Uzum's digital and logistics infrastructure throughout the country will become one of the drivers of employment growth and entrepreneurship development in the country. 

— We are ready to teach the basics of digital literacy and business management and provide convenient and understandable services for the implementation of these skills, commented Roman Lavrentiev, Uzum's Chief Operating Officer. — By developing financial services, a marketplace, and convenient banking tools for private users and entrepreneurs, we, first, create equal opportunities for all residents of the country — men and women, residents of the capital and small towns. It is this principle that has become unifying for me and my colleagues from UNDP in a joint project.

— Our common goal is to create a structure aimed at closing the digital and financial literacy skills gap among the unemployed, — says Anas Qarman, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Uzbekistan, — This initiative aims to empower women and young people by providing them with the skills needed in the modern world. We see Uzum as a long-term partner with a promising potential. The ecosystem's contribution to the development of the country's economy is already noticeable. For example, the choice of Uzum by investors gives confidence in a stable partnership and the fact that now the ecosystem is the first IT unicorn in Uzbekistan. 

The parties agreed to develop comprehensive training materials focused on basic financial literacy for e-commerce, as well as to conduct seminars and trainings in the regions to ensure effective dissemination and assimilation of skills by residents of the country.

 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to helping Uzbekistan on its way to eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, bridging digital gaps and promoting inclusivity.