Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has declared the beginning of a “new era” for the country and outlined key development goals for the coming decade in a message marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence.

According to the presidential press service, Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan had made significant progress in recent years, pointing to a decline in the poverty rate from 35% in 2017 to 4% in 2026, The Caspian Post reports.

He also said the previously established target of increasing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to $160 billion would be achieved this year. At the same time, the president set a more ambitious goal of raising Uzbekistan’s GDP to $300 billion by 2030.

Mirziyoyev said seven national programs had been launched covering education, healthcare, environmental protection, the protection of citizens’ and entrepreneurs’ rights, and the development of mahallas, or local communities.

“The next decade will be an era of national progress for us,” Mirziyoyev said.

Addressing foreign policy, he said Uzbekistan would continue pursuing a “multi-vector, balanced and well-calibrated” approach and seek to transform the country into a “centre of international diplomacy.”