WNAM MONITORING: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on measures for the socio-economic development of Samarkand region and improving the population’s well-being.
The region is in the center of Uzbekistan and has well-developed trade, industry, tourism, transport, and agriculture. The tasks set during the visit of the Head of state in August 2023 are being consistently implemented.
Now, it is necessary to reach new milestones. For this purpose, meetings were held with the population and entrepreneurs, and the possibility of implementing 120 projects worth $4.1 billion was determined. In particular, next year, within the framework of regional programs, it is planned to master investments of 1 billion 850 million dollars in Samarkand region, create 20,000 jobs, and produce products worth 1.2 trillion UZS.
For example, in the village of Chimboyobod in Pastdargom district, a special industrial zone can be created on 234 hectares in the Hokimiyat reserve. Entrepreneurs have expressed their willingness to invest $500 million in it and launch projects in pharmaceuticals, chemistry, electrical engineering, building materials and the food industry.
If 25 hectares of rocky land around the Zarafshan River are included in the Urgut Free Economic Zone, this will allow the implementation of projects worth $30 million. In the first stage, projects worth 500 billion UZS are planned to organize a 35-kilometer tourist route along the Dargom Canal and a gastronomic bridge on the Narpay Canal.
It is necessary to turn pastures and dry lands in the region into economic assets. For example, 350 hectares of dry land in Samarkand district can be developed into a tourist and recreational zone, which would accommodate a thousand entrepreneurs and create 3.5 thousand jobs.
The soil and climate of Bulungur are favorable for fruit and vegetable growing. If 6,000 hectares of inefficient grain land in the district are specialized in growing fruit and vegetable products, the income from each hectare will exceed $10,000, and 45,000 people will be employed. Half of the products will be exported, which will provide additional export revenue of $52 million.
Residents of Ishtykhan, Urgut, Payaryk, and Koshrabot grow grapes on 35 thousand hectares. However, the yield is low due to the lack of skills in planting high-yield varieties, disease control, and new agricultural practices. In this regard, creating an experimental station of the Scientific Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture in Ishtykhan was proposed. It will establish in vitro growing of seedlings and cultivation of such grape varieties in demand on the market as “Giant”, “Sirliboy”, “Avatar”. As a result, the yield will increase by 25-30 centners and exports by $20 million.
It is also possible to open enterprises to process minerals based on deposits in Koshrabot, Ishtykhan, Nurabad, Pastdargom, Pakhtachi, and Urgut.
At the meeting, the Hokim of Samarkand region presented measures to implement untapped opportunities.
The Head of state approved these proposals and instructed the introduction of a resolution on improving the investment climate and business environment in Samarkand region. Instructions were given on the placement of projects based on the master plan, the creation of even more jobs and modern housing, and the improvement of the well-being of the population.
