On November 20, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting regarding the social and economic development measures for the Samarkand region and the improvement of the population's welfare, as reported by the president's press service.
The region has identified the potential implementation of 120 projects totaling $4.1 billion. In 2025, it is planned to attract $1.85 billion in investments for the Samarkand region within the framework of regional programs, create 20,000 jobs, and additionally produce goods worth 1.2 trillion sums.
In the territory of the Chimboyobod village in the Pastdargom district, a special industrial zone can be established on 234 hectares of land reserved by the local administration. Entrepreneurs have expressed their readiness to invest $500 million and initiate projects in the fields of pharmaceuticals, chemistry, electrical engineering, construction materials, and the food industry.
If 25 hectares of rocky land around the Zarafshan River are included in the "Urgut" free economic zone, it will enable the implementation of projects worth $30 million, as noted in the meeting.
Additionally, it is planned to implement projects worth 500 billion sums at the initial stage, which includes organizing a 35 km tourist route along the Dargom canal and a gastronomic bridge over the Narpay canal.
The president emphasized the need to transform pastures and dry lands into economic assets. For instance, a tourist and recreational zone can be organized on 350 hectares of dry lands in the Samarkand district, accommodating a thousand entrepreneurs and creating 3,500 jobs.
Photo: President's press service
In the Bulungur district, it is proposed to specialize 6,000 hectares of low-efficiency grain areas for growing fruit and vegetable products. As a result, income from each hectare will exceed $10,000, providing jobs for 45,000 people. Half of the production will be exported, generating additional export revenue of $52 million.
In Ishtikhan, it is suggested to establish a research station of the Scientific Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture. It will focus on growing seedlings using the in vitro method and cultivating market-demanded grape varieties, including "Giant," "Sirliboy," and "Avatar." Consequently, the yield will increase by 25-30 centners, and exports will rise by $20 million.
Moreover, there is potential for opening mineral processing enterprises based on deposits in Koshrobod, Ishtikhan, Nurabad, Pastdargom, Pakhtachi, and Urgut.
The governor of the Samarkand region presented measures for realizing "unused opportunities." The head of state approved these proposals and instructed to place projects based on the master plan.
Earlier, Spot reported that in the Andijan region, plans are in place to change the category of 1,800 hectares of land.