Shavkat Mirziyoyev: Khorezm is a crossroads of the glorious past and new reforms

On May 2, a meeting was held in the Urgench district on the priority tasks of the socio-economic development of the Khorezm region.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that Khorezm is a crossroads where the glorious history of our people and new reforms connect.

Despite the distance from supply chains and limited natural resources, the past year can be called the year of small and medium-sized businesses for the region. In 2024, 7 thousand new entrepreneurs began operating in the region, 47 enterprises moved from the category of small to medium-sized, and 1,700 enterprises resumed operations. As a result, 290 thousand people got jobs over the year.

Nevertheless, many pressing problems remain. The poverty level in the region is still about 12 percent, and the number of unemployed people is 45 thousand. In this regard, it was noted that khokims and their deputies must turn every opportunity into a feasible project, create new jobs, develop industry, services, tourism, agriculture and export potential.

The head of state outlined the available opportunities and measures for their effective use.

For example, the total export potential of tourism in the country is estimated at 10 billion dollars, of which Khorezm can provide 2 billion. However, this potential is not fully exploited. There are 263 cultural heritage sites in the region. They can be turned into tourist locations together with entrepreneurs, which will provide additional income and create new jobs. Funding will be allocated to attract foreign archaeologists to study and restore historical sites.

More than 40 areas of handicraft are actively developing in Khorezm, and tourists are especially interested in the process of making products.

The development of public catering establishments is also important. The President emphasized the need to support restaurateurs promoting national cuisine abroad. The state partially compensates for the costs associated with registering, obtaining permits and managing restaurants of Uzbek cuisine abroad.

The issues of increasing hotel beds and transport routes, creating new entertainment and themed spaces, training guides and waiters were also discussed.

In general, for the current year, the task has been set to implement 91 projects worth $200 million, to create 100 thousand jobs in tourism and services. It is planned to attract 2 million foreign and 10 million domestic tourists and increase tourism exports to $700 million.

There are also significant opportunities in the economic sphere. This year, it is planned to ensure at least 6 percent economic growth in Khorezm and increase the gross regional product to 60 trillion soums. 265 thousand people will be employed, and 104 thousand will be lifted out of poverty.

Under the privatization program in 2025, 41 government buildings and 350 hectares of land will be put up for auction in the region - this creates huge opportunities for the development of the service sector, tourism and manufacturing.

Over the past eight years, the furniture industry in Khorezm increased 3 times. A furniture industrial zone has been created on 10 hectares in the Khankinsky district. For further development of the industry, designers, marketers and process engineers will be attracted from abroad. It was also instructed to develop a special program to support the furniture industry as a whole.

In the current challenging global environment, the winners are those countries that attract innovation and investment. Large-scale plans are envisaged in this direction and in Khorezm: this year 12 large and 480 regional projects worth $900 million will be implemented. The production of 65 types of products and 5 types of equipment will be localized, the volume of localization will reach 1.7 trillion soums. It is planned to attract $1.5 billion in foreign direct investment and export products worth $510 million.

Thus, an Uzbek-Chinese technology park is being created in the Koshkupir district on 175 hectares, within the framework of which 16 investment projects are being implemented worth $1 billion.

The first stage of construction will begin in Tuprakkal gas chemical complex worth 10 billion dollars. There, 2 million tons of 14 types of polymer products with high added value will be produced annually.

There are 663 enterprises producing construction materials in the region, this industry is becoming one of the drivers of the region. Support will be provided for the sale of the products of these enterprises, and another 40 new projects worth $100 million will be launched.

The Slovak company is implementing a project in Tuprakkal for growing rapeseed and producing bioethanol worth $170 million.

56 projects worth $60 million will be launched in agriculture. Additionally, 3,400 hectares of land will be put into circulation, and 1,200 hectares of industrial gardens will be created.

Together with the Austrian company Bauer, sprinkler irrigation will be introduced on 7.5 thousand hectares. Ready-to-use installations will be leased to farmers for a period of 10 years at 2.5 percent per annum in soums.

Khorezm farmers, in an effort to reduce costs, install modern autopilots on tractors, which allows for more accurate sowing. It was noted that such initiatives will be supported by preferential lending.

21 percent of all pumping stations in the country are located in areas where access to water resources is difficult. It was emphasized that the installation of solar panels will significantly reduce energy costs.

Measures are outlined for the development of fish farming, milk processing and the cultivation of alternative crops in the fields.

Construction projects are envisaged to improve the standard of living of the population: this year 200 apartment buildings with 7 thousand apartments will be built, 1,500 kilometers of roads will be repaired and 20 bridges. These works will provide employment to 20 thousand people.

Particular attention will be paid to the development of the social sphere. Access to high-tech medical services will expand, the coverage of dual education for students of technical schools and universities will increase, and support for youth in employment will be strengthened.

At the end of the meeting, information from responsible persons on plans for implementing the planned measures was heard.

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The head of our state got acquainted with the activities of new enterprises of the Urganch Cluster textile cluster in the Khorezm region.

Five years have passed since the creation of the cluster. Today it is a full-fledged vertically integrated system, covering all stages - from growing cotton to sewing ready-made clothes. The cluster enterprises employ 3 thousand people.

The cluster processes the entire volume of cotton grown on 8.5 thousand hectares of land. For this purpose, the cluster operates a cotton gin and oil and fat factories.

Recently, spinning and weaving capacities have been significantly increased. Thanks to additional investments, two more new enterprises were launched, which installed modern equipment from Germany, Japan and Turkey.

A training and practical center was created on the basis of the production. Here, future seamstresses and designers are trained, who then work at the enterprises of the cluster.

Thanks to this, production volumes will significantly increase: it is planned to produce about 10 thousand 800 tons of yarn and 3 million units of clothing products per year.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited new factories, got acquainted with the production process and finished products products, talked to the women seamstresses working there, and was interested in their wages and working conditions.

Most of the high-quality clothing produced here is intended for export. The annual export potential of the enterprise is about 28 million dollars.

Recommendations were given to expand the range and improve the quality of products, increase export volumes, and reduce costs through energy efficiency.

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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Regional Center for Professional Skills, opened in the city of Urgench.

The complex was built with grant funds from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in the amount of $9 million. It is equipped with modern equipment and simulation facilities necessary for training in in-demand professions. The center provides training in 10 areas, including vehicle maintenance, welding, lifting equipment management, repair of electronic and household appliances, furniture production, hairdressing and cosmetology, mobilography and hotel service.

Modern educational buildings, workshops, a dormitory for 64 people and auxiliary facilities were built on an area of ​​almost 2 hectares. The educational institution is capable of annually training up to 300 students in six-month professional training courses.

The President got acquainted with the classrooms and talked with young people studying in the field of hotel services.

– We will bring Urgench airport to the world level in partnership with Incheon Airport. We are building large tourist centers and hotels. And if we want more foreign tourists to come to Uzbekistan, the level of service must be international. Tourists come for our history and nature, and if the service is high-quality, they will leave satisfied. Here, a lot depends on the culture of communication, ethics and staff training. Therefore, use this chance and master the profession. In the future, strive to become entrepreneurs yourself, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized.

The center has also provided training in the specialty of servicing electric vehicles in cooperation with the Labor Migration Agency, as well as the South Korean company Hyundai and the German SBH West. This will make it possible to train personnel that meet the requirements of both the domestic and international labor markets.

Widespread international cooperation is developing. In January of this year, the administrative staff of the center completed two-week advanced training courses in South Korea. Currently, over 20 teachers and instructors continue their studies in this country.

The head of state emphasized that qualified professional training is the basis for industrialization and development of the country as a whole. Instructions were given on the effective use of equipment, the rational organization of training shifts and the expansion of outreach to young people.

At this point, the President completed his trip to Khorezm and returned to Tashkent.

Official website of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan