12 projects worth $176 million commissioned in Khorezm region

In recent years, extensive efforts have been made to comprehensively develop the Khorezm region, diversify its economy, and improve the business and investment climate.

Over the past nine years, $7.5 billion in investment has been attracted to the region, and 9,700 new facilities have been commissioned. More than 33 trillion soums in loans have been allocated to small and medium-sized business projects.

As a result, the real incomes of the population have doubled. The share of employment in industry and construction has reached 18 percent, while the figure for the service sector stands at 55 percent. The poverty rate has fallen to 4.4 percent, while unemployment has halved to 4.5 percent. Seventy-two mahallas are now free from unemployment and poverty.

The region’s transport and tourism infrastructure is being consistently modernized. Over the past nine years, 280 hotels and guesthouses have been built, accommodation capacity has increased fourfold, and 11 new tourism facilities have been commissioned. Over the past five years, the number of foreign tourists has increased tenfold.

A ceremony to launch new projects in the Khorezm region and mark the start of construction of new facilities was held at the Farovon Khiva Hotel in Khiva with the participation of the President.

“From the very first days of reforms in New Uzbekistan, we have identified the creation of new jobs and the launch of modern production facilities as one of our main priorities. To this end, we have adopted dedicated programs and resolutions for the Khorezm region, clearly defined funding sources and responsible officials, and organized the relevant work,” the Head of State said.

While Khorezm attracted only $30 million in foreign investment in 2016, this figure is expected to exceed $2 billion in 2026.

Since the beginning of the year, the necessary conditions have been created in Urgench and Khiva, as well as Tuproqqala and Urgench districts, for the implementation of new projects in the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, building materials production, and tourism. Issues related to the reclassification of 195 hectares of land for industrial use and the allocation of 100 billion soums for the development of electricity and road infrastructure have been resolved.

In addition, ahead of Independence Day, an electrified railway line from Urgench International Airport to Khiva was put into operation.The Urgench-Khiva toll road is also being launched. It will be the first toll road in Uzbekistan and will reduce travel time between the two cities from 45 to 20 minutes.

“Continuing this work, today, together with you, we will commission 12 projects worth $176 million. In addition, we will launch the construction of 15 new facilities worth $7.424 billion, to be developed with the participation of foreign partners,” the President said.

In particular, a $6 billion sustainable aviation fuel production project will be implemented in Tuproqqala district jointly with partners from the United Arab Emirates. China’s Sinopec is involved in the project, and work has begun to prepare the land and develop project documentation.

Together with Slovak partners, there are plans to develop 5,000 hectares of sandy land and build a $170 million bioethanol production facility. Practical work has already begun on 1,500 hectares.

In Urgench, a 250-room hotel and a shopping and entertainment complex worth $30 million are being built jointly with Japanese partners. The project is scheduled to become fully operational in 2027.

A modern boiler plant will be built in the regional center jointly with a partner from Saudi Arabia to supply heat and electricity to 183 apartment buildings and 37 social facilities. An ophthalmology clinic will also be established with Turkish partners through a public-private partnership.

In Urgench district, a $100 million project involving Korean investors will introduce closed-loop waste processing and generate 71 megawatts of green energy. The project will be the first of its kind in Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, the $120 million Sahro Yulduzi modern tourism complex will be developed on a 26-hectare site adjacent to Khiva. In Urgench district, a $26 million copper industry cluster and a $60 million fiber-optic cable production facility will also be built.

In the town of Al-Khwarizmi, a modern university designed for 5,000 students will be built, along with a hotel and recreational and shopping complexes. An Investors’ House will also be constructed in Urgench.

Overall, the implementation of these projects will create 6,600 new jobs.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to the foreign partners and members of the public involved in implementing the projects.

By pressing a symbolic button, the President launched the completed projects and marked the start of construction of new facilities. He then held a warm conversation with investors and regional leaders.