Mirziyoyev Approves Greenhouse Development in Southern Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 25 March, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a comprehensive program for the development of the greenhouse sector in the country’s south. The decree, published on the official portal Lex.uz, formalizes the measures announced during a presidential meeting on 23 March.

According to the document, by the end of 2027, at least 940 hectares of greenhouse farms are planned for establishment in the Sherabad district of Surkhandarya region.

A key focus is the implementation of energy-saving solutions: at least 50% of greenhouses are required to be equipped with heating systems based on alternative energy sources. Simultaneously, the plan calls for a phased reduction of operations at enterprises generating harmful atmospheric emissions.

A free economic zone (FEZ) named “Surkhan-Agro” will be established near the Oltiin Vokha mahalla to accommodate the greenhouses. The zone will operate for 30 years, with the possibility of extension. Participants in the FEZ will benefit from tax, customs, and other incentives available for free economic activity regimes.

Management of the zone will be entrusted to a dedicated directorate responsible for implementing modern and digital agrotechnologies, automated management systems, drip irrigation, and green energy solutions. The directorate will also ensure “single-window” access to engineering networks, support in obtaining subsidies and export documentation, facilitate the creation of an agro-logistics center with sorting, packaging, and cooling facilities, attract foreign direct investment, and develop a cluster-based model.

Entrepreneurs will receive additional benefits: land lease through online auctions at zero rates for five years, three-year exemption from fees for underground and wastewater use, and free connection to engineering infrastructure from 1 June 2026 to 1 June 2028. In cases of extreme cold, coal heating for greenhouses will be permitted in compliance with environmental standards.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has been tasked with developing proposals for transporting products from the FEZ via road and rail starting in 2027, with a 50% transportation discount planned from 2030 to 2032. The Customs Committee, together with the Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency, will establish a phytosanitary center operating under a “green corridor” principle to expedite exports. The center is expected to open by the end of this year.