Since President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in December 2016, significant social and economic reforms have been undertaken in the country. For instance, the government has created new free economic zones (in Urgut, Gijduvan, Qoqand, and Hazarasp, as well as seven free economic zones of the pharmaceutical sector), improved the legal and economic conditions of running business, and initiated reforms in the tax and education systems.