President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to review the socio-economic development of Samarkand region and the projects to be accomplished by the end of the year.
The region has seen considerable progress in the recent years, but the level of growth varies from one area to another. Of the region’s total industrial activity, Samarkand accounts for almost half. In the past seven months, foreign direct investment of $600 million has been injected, with 78 percent of the amount directed to Samarkand, Kattakurgan, Pastdargom, and Samarkand districts. Energy consumption has increased 1.5 times in the last five years, yet agricultural yields remain uneven and water consumption is high.
The President outlined the potentials of the region in terms of entrepreneurship, investment, industry, and tourism. He stressed the need to support entrepreneurship and small businesses in the mahallas, expand the cultivation of grapes and pistachios, and provide employment opportunities in the tourism industry. This year, 170 billion UZS have been allocated to develop infrastructure in 15 districts and 106 industrial zones of the region, but only a small portion of the 620 hectares of land available for use is being utilized. The President instructed responsible persons to address the infrastructure issues and attract entrepreneurs to these sites.
The President also talked about the need to upgrade the substations of Oqdaryo and Pastdargom, and construct two photovoltaic stations with a capacity of 250 megawatts in Samarkand. He pointed out that the region has the potential to create 20,000 permanent jobs in the tourism sector and increase exports to $500 million. To achieve this, more attractive tours should be introduced and the convenience of using roads and public transport should be improved. Furthermore, the President gave an instruction to establish new points of interest in 100 mahallas and villages as part of the “tourist mortgage” program.
“Our people are expecting the tasks we have identified to be implemented. If each hokim does not take advantage of the opportunities of his region to produce products and create jobs, no one else will do it for them. The next four months should be used to lay a solid foundation for the next year”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The hokims of the region and districts and the responsible persons of industries reported on the topics discussed at the meeting. Afterward, the President returned to Tashkent, concluding his visit to Samarkand region.
UzA