Khodjaev: Investment Must Drive Karakalpakstan’s Growth
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Karakalpakstan must turn its industrial and energy potential into new production, exports and sustainable employment, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev said following the work of a government commission in the region. Khodjaev made the remarks on his LinkedIn page.
He said regional investment policy should operate as an integrated system in which the development of energy and transport infrastructure creates conditions for new production facilities, which in turn drive export growth and job creation.
As part of the commission’s work, Khodjaev visited investment projects in Nukus and the Kegeyli and Karauzyak districts.
The Deputy Prime Minister said reliable and accessible infrastructure was a key factor in attracting investors.
As an example, he cited the 100 MW Karatau-1 wind power plant, implemented by ACWA Power with US$108 million in foreign investment. The second phase of the project is now underway and includes the construction of an additional 200 MW of wind generation capacity and a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Investment in the second phase is estimated at US$263 million.
New production chains are also being developed in the region. In Kegeyli district, Kegeyli Textile is implementing a US$16.5 million project to produce 5,000 tonnes of yarn annually. The facility will create 100 jobs, generate US$1.5 million in exports and allow imports worth about US$10 million to be replaced.
In Nukus, Rauia Med is investing US$8 million to establish pharmaceutical production with annual capacity of up to 48 million tablets and 24,000 capsules.
In addition, an industrial park worth US$40 million is planned in the capital of Karakalpakstan. The 76-hectare site is expected to produce 32 types of products and create up to 2,800 jobs.
Khodjaev said the government commission would continue to support project implementation and address factors that could delay their launch.
He stressed that investment must be transformed into actual production, new opportunities for businesses and long-term economic growth for the region.
