A meeting was held on November 1 in Navbahor district to discuss the development of Navoi region’s economy, increasing the population’s income, and improving social infrastructure. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened the meeting by acknowledging the recent democratic elections and expressing gratitude to citizens for their active participation.
The region, named after the great ancestor Alisher Navoi, should serve as a model for spiritual education and enlightenment. To honor this, the President proposed declaring 2025 as the Year of Alisher Navoi in the region. This initiative includes plans for a national competition, Navoi readings, publication of books for young people, and production of films based on the poet’s works. A monument and museum dedicated to Alisher Navoi will also be built in the town of New Navoi.
The meeting also analyzed the region’s economic indicators and plans in detail. Over the past seven years, Navoi has implemented 6.5 thousand projects worth $8 billion, creating an added value of 27 trillion UZS. The number of entrepreneurs has tripled, and the region’s economy has moved from ninth to third place, reaching 82 trillion UZS. This year, 577 projects worth $2.2 billion will be implemented, creating 10,000 high-income jobs.
However, there is still untapped potential for development in Navoi. The region, located in the country’s center, has abundant natural resources, developed infrastructure, and a highly skilled workforce. It holds 20% of Uzbekistan’s mineral resources, with an estimated value of more than $5 trillion, making it an attractive destination for investors.
The region also produces industrial products worth more than 100 trillion UZS annually, and its per capita income ranks second in the country, providing opportunities for the growth of local entrepreneurship, trade, services, catering, and tourism.
In terms of energy, the region produces 11 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and the upcoming commissioning of wind and solar power plants with a total capacity of 5.2 gigawatts will support the operation of new industrial and service enterprises.
The President raised concerns about the effective utilization of these opportunities by the regional hokim, hokims of 11 cities and districts, government organizations and banks, and the “mahalla of seven” in 330 mahallas.
The goal is to attract $3.7 billion in foreign investment to the region by 2025, which will open 600 new enterprises and create 15 thousand high-income jobs. These projects will not only benefit Navoi but also the surrounding regions.
Under the new law “On Subsoil,” all deposits of strategic resources will undergo international assessment. A regional office of the Ministry of Mining and Geology will be established in Navoi, which will handle licensing issues, issue permits, and conduct auctions for deposits.
The region is also rich in water resources, with the Zarafshan and Oqdaryo rivers, 256 kilometers of streams, and more than 2 thousand kilometers of canals. The President ordered the construction of small hydroelectric power plants on these water sources, with a budget of $10 million, and their transfer to entrepreneurs through industrial mortgages.
Next year, the region aims to attract 500 thousand foreign tourists and increase the export of services to $150 million. The possibility of creating trade and service points from lightweight structures along the roads was also discussed.
The meeting also addressed employment issues. The region has 16 thousand low-income families and more than 8 thousand unemployed citizens. It was noted that utilizing additional potential in various economic sectors can provide employment opportunities for these individuals. The employment and social protection systems have been tasked with lifting 16 thousand families out of poverty within a year.
The President emphasized the importance of creating food reserves and ensuring daily markets to stabilize prices. Agriculture plays a crucial role in this, but only 100,000 hectares of irrigated land are currently cultivated in Navoi, with 72% of it relying on pumps for irrigation. Despite having 9 million hectares of pastures, the region has a small number of livestock.
To address this, the region plans to import seeds and technology from Turkey and China to increase cotton yields to 70 centners, renew 7 thousand hectares of orchards and vineyards, and prepare all irrigated lands for sowing 10 thousand hectares of sunflower as a secondary crop. Drones will be used to scatter seeds of forage, medicinal plants, and spices over pastures and distribute them among 50 thousand residents. In total, 3 million hectares of pastures will be improved in three years, and the number of livestock is expected to increase tenfold.
The meeting also touched upon infrastructure issues. Due to the rapid population growth in Zarafshan, the city’s territory will be expanded by 2,000 hectares from the Tomdi district to accommodate 150 thousand residents.
The city of Zarafshan, Uchkuduk, and Tomdi districts are home to 200 thousand people, and many foreign investors are also present. To facilitate their convenience, the President proposed using the airport in Zarafshan and laying additional power lines to New Tomdi village to attract more entrepreneurial projects.
Plans were also made to renovate 18 old schools and improve drinking water supply systems in remote areas, build kindergartens and schools, and promote the population’s health. The region aims to train 9 thousand women in entrepreneurship and provide them with employment opportunities.
Preparations for the autumn/winter season and the implementation of the Green Space Program were also discussed.
The leadership of Karakalpakstan and other regions participated in the meeting via video link. They acknowledged the opportunities available in their regions and pledged to improve efficiency in implementing similar strategies. Measures were announced to accelerate projects in industry, construction, agriculture, tourism, and services to promote regional economic development and ensure population employment. Plans were also defined for the rest of the year and the following year.
With that, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded his visit to Navoi region.
UzA