On December 4, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presided over a meeting to address food security, boost investment, and reduce poverty in Kashkadarya region.
Kashkadarya has immense potential in key sectors such as industry, energy, agriculture, and tourism. Since the beginning of the year, the region has attracted $2 billion in investments, providing employment for 565 thousand people and lifting 90 thousand out of poverty. The gross regional product is expected to grow by more than 6 percent, with exports reaching $555 million by the end of the year.
To fully utilize the region’s potential, additional opportunities and new projects were discussed at the meeting.
First and foremost, ensuring food security is a top priority. Starting next year, Kashkadarya aims to achieve self-sufficiency in potatoes, fruits, poultry, and eggs. 16 large projects, with the involvement of foreign investors, have been formed in this direction.
For instance, a modern 300-hectare orchard will be established in Guzar, Qamashi, and Shakhrisabz districts, producing an additional 4 thousand tons of fruits annually and creating 600 jobs. Organic farming of melons and vegetables will also be expanded in Kukdala, Chiroqchi, Shakhrisabz, Koson, and Nishon districts, along with the production of watermelon concentrate, shock freezing, and freeze-drying.
The development of livestock farming is also a key focus in the region. 62 thousand sheep and 10 thousand cattle will be imported from neighboring countries and Europe, and will be bred in cooperation with local communities and livestock farms. A livestock cluster for 1 thousand heads and a poultry farm for 1 million heads will be established in Qarshi and Qamashi.
To increase the production of finished products in the cotton industry, 5 textile enterprises worth $233 million will be launched, resulting in a 51 percent increase in fabric production capacity.
The tourism industry in Kashkadarya is also rapidly developing, particularly in the villages of Miraki in Shakhrisabz and Maydanak in Qamashi, as well as Achinkul and Sechankul in Mirishkor district. A total investment of $300 million is planned for the development of these areas, including the establishment of 200 guest houses and a thousand retail outlets, providing employment for 5,000 people.
Entrepreneurs have also proposed utilizing the region’s 147 non-metallic deposits to produce finished products. An investment of $209 million will be made in this sector, and the deposits will gradually be put up for auction.
In line with the President’s decree, the “From Poverty to Prosperity” program was launched on November 1 of this year. Six major enterprises in Kashkadarya have contributed to this initiative, pledging to lift over 10 thousand citizens out of poverty next year. Additionally, 86 driver projects and 33 thousand microprojects, in collaboration with banks, are expected to provide income for another 70 thousand people, reducing the region’s poverty level from 8.6 to 6.5 percent.
At the meeting, the Governor of Kashkadarya region presented his plans, which include attracting $3.5 billion in investments, increasing exports to $1 billion, and creating 300 thousand jobs next year.
The President emphasized that the current indicators do not reflect the region’s capabilities and instructed for improved efficiency. He also tasked for the development of additional projects worth $300 million in industry, agriculture, and services in collaboration with the initiators.
UzA