SAMARKAND: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presided over a meeting outlining key developmental prospects and imminent goals to be achieved by year-end.
The Samarkand region, known for its dynamic growth, is now witnessing varying growth rates across different areas.
A striking pattern reveals that nearly half of the region’s industrial output is concentrated within the city of Samarkand. Recent statistics reveal a noteworthy influx of foreign direct investment, amounting to $600 million over the past seven months.
However, a substantial 78 percent of this investment is attributed to specific locales such as Samarkand city, Kattakurgan, Pastdargom, and Samarkand districts. Challenges in energy consumption have emerged, with a 1.5-fold increase over five years. Agricultural disparities are also apparent, with uneven yields and excessive water consumption.
In response to the identified challenges, President Mirziyoyev highlighted promising avenues within entrepreneurship, investment, industry, and tourism. The call to action included support for local entrepreneurship and household plots, as well as an emphasis on expanding grape and pistachio cultivation and generating employment through roadside services.
This year, an allocation of 170 billion UZS has been earmarked for the development of infrastructure in the Urgut Free Economic Zone across 15 districts and 106 industrial zones. However, a substantial 620 hectares of land within these zones remain unused. Immediate directives were issued to rectify infrastructure issues and attract entrepreneurs to leverage these dormant assets.
Infrastructure upgrades were also addressed, with plans to enhance the substations of Oqdaryo and Pastdargom. Additionally, the construction of two photovoltaic stations, each with a capacity of 250 megawatts, is in the pipeline for Samarkand.
A spotlight shone on the potential of Samarkand’s tourism sector, which holds the promise of creating 20,000 permanent jobs and escalating exports to $500 million. Achieving this entails introducing captivating tours, enhancing road and public transport networks, and establishing new points of interest across 100 mahallas and villages, leveraging the “tourist mortgage” initiative.
President Mirziyoyev rallied the regional leaders, stating, “The next four months should lay the groundwork for the upcoming year. It’s essential for each hokim to harness their region’s potential, foster local production, and cultivate job opportunities, as external assistance hinges on our internal efforts.”
The meeting witnessed reports from the region’s hokims, district representatives, and industry stakeholders. Following the fruitful discussions, President Mirziyoyev concluded his visit to Samarkand and returned to the capital city of Tashkent, leaving behind a roadmap for substantial progress in the region’s economic and social fronts.
