Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) presents the results of the development of Ferghana region over the past five years. The experts presented the main changes in the socio-economic development of the region that have occurred during the last years of active reforms.

Ferghana region is located in the southern part of Ferghana Valley, bordering Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The region is a leader in the production of raw cotton due to an increase in yield by 8-10 centners per hectare in 2018-2020. In addition, 9 cotton-textile clusters are successfully operating in the region.

Progress is also being made in the industrial sector. Over 50 enterprises have been launched in the free economic zone Qoqand. The number of joint ventures has approached 500.

Gross domestic product of the region (GRP) for 2017-2020 increased by 14% and amounted to 37.6 trillion soums.

Industrial production increased from 8 trillion soums to 21.7 trillion soums. soums (an increase of 8%).

Agricultural production increased by 15%, from 10.0 trillion soums in 2016 to 22.1 trillion soums in 2020.

The number of operating enterprises in the region increased by 56% from 34.3 thousand in 2016 to 53.6 thousand in 2020.

In the field of infrastructure development for 2016-2020. 187 km of gas pipelines and 1,620 km of water supply networks were laid.

For five years, about 179 thousand jobs were created in Ferghana region.

During the same period, 4.78 million square meters of housing were put into operation in the region, 12.3 thousand places were created in preschool institutions, 30.1 thousand places in schools, 2.7 thousand hospital beds.

The main "drivers" of the region are light industry, production of building materials, processing of vegetables and fruits, organization of industrial zones, development of new lands in agriculture, livestock, poultry, horticulture, viticulture, organization of greenhouses (including households), tourism in the field services (domestic tourism, ecotourism).

Within the framework of the program of socio-economic development of the region for 2017-2020, a total of 1967 investment projects have been implemented, for which 11.9 trillion soums have been allocated.