Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 22 August 2020, the Government Commission for the Development of Export and Investment, established in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. UP-6042 "On additional measures for further development of the export and investment potential of the republic" from 18 August 2020, under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov and as part of the heads of ministries, departments, industry associations, commercial banks and local authorities in the field format, began work on studying the state of industrial enterprises, identifying reserves for increasing production volumes and activating investment activity in Surkhandarya region.

The main tasks of the Government Commission in accordance with the Decree are the study of the identified problems in the implementation of export activities with the adoption, if necessary, of measures to eliminate them on the ground, the development of practical proposals for further expanding the export potential, monitoring the implementation of investment projects, including those involving foreign investment, as well as the identification of current and systemic problems that impede their growth and attraction of investment flow, the accelerated development of industry in the regions of the Republic, the creation of industrial clusters, including design organizations, research laboratories, production and logistics complexes, training, training and retraining centers personnel, assisting in the implementation of investment projects that ensure the creation of a value chain based on the effective use of domestic raw materials and materials, ensuring strict control over the floor efficient implementation of the activities stipulated in the road maps, including export agreements, as well as timely implementation of investment projects.

The preliminary results of the analysis showed that in 2019, industrial products worth 4.4 trillion soums were produced in Surkhandarya region. In the period from January to June of this year, the volume of production of goods reached 2.44 trillion soums (an increase of 6.1% compared to the same period of last year). In the structure of the region’s industry, 42% are textile, 17% - food, 12% - chemical and petrochemical industries, 9% - the production of building materials. In total, 3,786 industrial enterprises operate in the region, including 29 large and 3,757 small enterprises and microfirms.

During the field work, the members of the Commission studied the efficiency of using the industrial capacities of the region and identified systemic problems that impede the full use of the existing potential, as well as formed a preliminary list of 290 terminated or temporarily suspended activities, reduced production volumes or did not operate at full capacity of production enterprises, but also projects included in the regional investment program and the localization program.

In order to speed up the withdrawal of these enterprises to the break-even point and ensure their stable functioning, responsible leaders were assigned to each of them in the person of the khokims of districts and cities of the region, as well as heads of industry associations and commercial banks, whose tasks will include the prompt solution of the identified problems and providing comprehensive assistance to entrepreneurs.

Also, the current regional investment program was revised with its optimization by increasing the number of projects aimed at creating high-tech industries for the production of export-oriented products with high added value and characterized by a large number of jobs being created. At the same time, special attention was paid to stimulating the growth of investment and industrial activity and creating conditions for employment of the population in underdeveloped areas of the region.

Likewise, the localization program was revised: priority was given to projects with high economic efficiency, significant export potential, a large number of jobs and tight deadlines for implementation and commissioning. Optimization of this program will make it possible in a shorter time to achieve a significant increase in production, exports, budget revenues and create new jobs, which, in general, will increase the efficiency of the development of attracted investments and achieve accelerated economic growth in the regions of the Republic.

Based on the study of the economic potential, raw material base, infrastructure and logistics capabilities of districts and cities of the region, as well as an assessment of the need for the import of specific goods, measures were taken to develop proposals providing for the creation of research and production clusters covering complete value chains and aimed at strengthening cooperative ties between enterprises of various industries and regions. It was revealed that the priority areas for the development of specific projects in this direction are the pharmaceutical, textile, leather and footwear and furniture industries, the production of building materials, as well as the processing of agricultural products.

The current state of investment and industrial activity on the territory of the free economic zones "Termez" and "Boysun-Pharm" was also critically reviewed. A low level of utilization of the existing potential of these zones was noted, in connection with which instructions were given to develop new investment proposals.

Over the next week, the Commission will continue to work in Surkhandarya region with the aim of developing specific practical measures in the context of districts, cities and enterprises aimed at increasing production, export, localization of imported products and ensuring employment for the general population. In parallel with this, similar work will be organized in other regions of the Republic.