Termez State University implements an institutional entrepreneurship financing support framework aimed at facilitating the establishment and development of financially viable and socially sustainable businesses within Surkhandarya Region. Through its dedicated Start-up Centre, Youth Centre and the Kelajakka qadam (Step into the Future) programme, the university connects aspiring entrepreneurs with preferential financing opportunities, institutional guidance and business development resources. These initiatives contribute to poverty reduction by supporting self-employment, encouraging enterprise creation and expanding opportunities for sustainable income generation within the local community.
A significant advancement in the university's entrepreneurship support framework was achieved in 2025 through the implementation of the Kelajakka qadam programme, established in accordance with Presidential Resolution No. PQ-61 of 14 February 2025. In partnership with the National Bank of Uzbekistan, the university facilitates access to preferential business financing for students, graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to transform innovative ideas into operational enterprises. The programme operates through a dedicated centre at Termiz State University, extending its services to students and prospective graduate entrepreneurs from higher education institutions throughout Termez.
The financial assistance mechanism encompasses several preferential credit instruments designed to accommodate different stages of entrepreneurial development. These include the Kelajakka qadam financing package of up to UZS 10 million, the Kelajak uchun start package of up to UZS 100 million, and the Yorqin kelajak sari package of up to UZS 1 billion. By providing access to financing at different scales, the programme supports small-scale self-employment initiatives alongside more substantial business projects with potential for enterprise expansion and employment generation.
The programme achieved measurable results during its first year of implementation. By 1 August 2025, 25 Termiz State University students had secured UZS 666 million in entrepreneurship financing, while four beneficiaries had formally registered legal entities and acquired employer status. Financial assistance expanded considerably over the following months, reaching 196 student beneficiaries and a cumulative UZS 3.6 billion by 12 December 2025. These resources, facilitated through the university's institutional partnership with the National Bank, supported the establishment and development of entrepreneurial activities and strengthened pathways from higher education into independent economic participation.
The university's wider entrepreneurship ecosystem reinforces these financial mechanisms through its established Youth Centre and innovation infrastructure. The Youth Centre, developed through cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, provides opportunities for business incubation, technical consultation and the development of locally relevant entrepreneurial initiatives. Its earlier entrepreneurship support activities included the allocation of approximately US$450,000 towards more than 20 sustainability-oriented start-up projects, demonstrating the institution's broader experience in connecting innovative business ideas with financial resources.
Financial assistance is complemented by institutional efforts to encourage enterprises that generate economic value while addressing social and environmental needs. University-supported entrepreneurial initiatives include water-saving agricultural technologies, renewable energy applications, innovative construction materials, resource-efficient production and environmentally responsible manufacturing solutions. Such activities contribute to the diversification of local economic opportunities and create potential pathways for addressing practical challenges affecting regional livelihoods.
The programme's regional significance extends beyond individual financing transactions. By connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with financial institutions, supporting the formal registration of new enterprises and promoting economically productive activities, Termez State University strengthens the foundations of community-level entrepreneurship. Particular emphasis is placed on facilitating the transition from education into self-employment and business ownership, thereby expanding opportunities for young people to establish independent sources of income and contribute to local employment.
Termiz State University's financial assistance framework reflects a coordinated approach to sustainable entrepreneurship in which access to capital is reinforced by institutional expertise, business development guidance and innovation infrastructure. The combination of preferential financing, entrepreneurial support services and opportunities for project implementation reduces barriers to enterprise formation and strengthens the potential for long-term financial independence among emerging entrepreneurs.
Through these initiatives, Termiz State University advances Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty by facilitating access to start-up capital, supporting the creation of economically viable businesses and contributing to more inclusive regional economic development. The university's sustained collaboration with financial institutions and its commitment to community-oriented entrepreneurship demonstrate the role of higher education in expanding livelihood opportunities, encouraging self-employment and strengthening the economic resilience of local communities.
