Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 29 November, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to discuss additional measures aimed at increasing investment inflows, creating jobs, and unlocking the economic potential of the Bukhara region.

Traditionally, the region’s economy has been based on agriculture. However, over the past seven years, more than US$4 billion in investments have been attracted, contributing to the development of sectors such as energy, electrical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as textile and leather production. This year, 1.5 million foreign tourists visited the region.

The president’s visit to the region in May provided a significant boost to its development. All the tasks set are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

At the same time, the president emphasized the need to ensure further economic growth in 2025, as well as to improve employment and the population’s standard of living. In this regard, a working group reviewed the region’s additional reserves and the barriers hindering entrepreneurship development.

During the critical meeting, the president expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic indicators of the region, pointing to unsatisfactory work in attracting investments, combating poverty, and reducing unemployment.

As a result, a decision was made to switch the khokims, their deputies, and sector leaders to an intensified work mode for the next six months.

The main focus will be on implementing 70 priority projects, similar to the successful initiatives in Saykhunabad, Uychi, Zarb Dara, and Gijduvan. These projects are expected to generate income for 150,000 people and lift 40,000 residents out of poverty.

Each district of the region has been proposed to specialize in specific industries. For instance, Pesku and Shafirkan will focus on producing construction materials and textiles, Kagan, Alat, and Jondor will specialize in the food industry, and Gijduvan and Romitan will focus on the chemical sector. As part of these initiatives, projects worth US$150 million will be implemented by entrepreneurs, 411 small enterprises will be opened, and 12,000 jobs will be created.

In Vabkent, Karakul, Jondor, and Alat, four textile factories will be built, with a total investment of US$320 million. These enterprises are expected to double the production of knitted and textile goods, creating an additional 5,000 jobs.

In the tourism sector, the number of foreign tourists is expected to grow to 2.2 million next year, with the volume of exported tourism services projected to increase to US$600 million. To achieve this, 69 new hotels and 2,000 handicraft workshops and stores will be opened.

In agriculture, another 20,000 hectares of land will be developed, allowing for the production of an additional 100,000 tons of products and the creation of 2,000 jobs.

On unused plots along canals and field edges, trees and food crops are planned to be planted. Also, on underutilized pastures, covering more than 2 million hectares, pistachios are planned to be grown.

The khokim of the region presented detailed plans for implementing these opportunities. Next year, 106 projects worth US$2 billion in foreign investments are scheduled to be implemented, creating 105,000 permanent jobs and increasing exports by US$350 million.

The president emphasized that the presented plans were insufficient and instructed that they be revised with improved proposals as part of the relevant decree.