President Holds Expanded Meeting on Cotton Harvest, Winter Preparation, Investment Execution, and “Yashil Makon” Project

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an expanded meeting was held to discuss the cotton harvest, preparation for the autumn-winter season, execution of investment and export targets, and the progress of the nationwide “Yashil Makon” (Green Space) project.

The meeting provided a detailed analysis of the cotton harvest pace and regional challenges. This year, cotton was sown on 875,000 hectares, with contracts signed for 3.7 million tons of raw cotton. More than 900 units of machinery were mobilized, and farmers received fuel and fertilizers at preferential rates. However, some regions are lagging behind schedule.

While Surkhandarya, Khorezm, Ferghana, and Andijan show satisfactory progress, Samarkand, Syrdarya, and Navoi remain below expectations. The President instructed the rapid creation of operational headquarters in problem areas to ensure quality harvests and timely resolution of farmers’ concerns. Responsible bodies were also tasked with prompt payments for collected cotton.

Special attention was given to preparations for the autumn-winter season. Across the country, 125 of 640 schools and kindergartens remain unrepaired. Out of 9,800 apartment buildings, nearly 1,000 are not winter-ready. Boiler repairs in Jizzakh and Surkhandarya are incomplete. The President ordered all deficiencies to be addressed within two weeks, ensuring that substations, electricity, and water networks are fully operational.

It was reported that 55,000 tons of coal have already been supplied to the population, including 9,000 tons to 381 remote settlements, with 27,000 tons remaining in storage. The President demanded rapid delivery of fuel and guaranteed supply of 330,000 tons of liquefied gas during winter. Those responsible for gas and electricity supply will bear personal accountability.

The “Yashil Makon” program was also reviewed. Of 137 million seedlings planted in spring, 27.5 million dried out due to early heat, affecting survival rates and increasing water usage. Consequently, autumn planting will be expanded: 125 million trees and shrubs will be planted this season, with an additional 75 million in spring. Seedlings must only be planted in areas with irrigation systems. Urbanization requires more green spaces in cities and regional centers; “green” master plans for Tashkent, Nukus, and all regional centers will be developed within two months with input from scientists, urbanists, and ecologists.

Economically, foreign investment reached US$33.5 billion in the first nine months, while exports from January to August totaled US$23 billion, a 31% increase from last year. However, growth is uneven across regions. The President instructed additional exports of US$7.3 billion by year-end and emphasized attracting investments and entering new markets. Strategic cooperation with U.S. states was highlighted: each region will establish partnerships with a specific state to facilitate direct connections between local entrepreneurs and foreign partners.

The meeting concluded with the President issuing concrete instructions to ensure timely and full execution of all tasks in the outlined areas.