President Holds Meeting on Development of Khorezm Region and Improving Reform Effectiveness

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 3 March, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to review the outcomes of reforms implemented in the Khorezm region and to outline priority tasks for the future.

During the session, it was noted that in recent years, thanks to the efficient use of available resources, the region has achieved significant progress across multiple sectors. Industrial production increased from 2.8 trillion soums in 2016 to 34.3 trillion soums, the regional gross product reached 63 trillion soums, and more than one billion dollars in investments were attracted last year.

Nevertheless, the achieved indicators do not yet fully reflect the region’s potential. Special attention was given to the tourism sector: despite its unique historical and cultural heritage, the average stay of visitors in Khorezm remains limited to one or two days.

Regional authorities were tasked with developing new systematic approaches to tourism development, establishing service facilities in tourist neighborhoods of Khiva, Bagat, and Khiva districts, and preparing a master plan to create 14 vibrant streets across 59 settlements. Plans also include the comprehensive development of the Suleymankala fortress on a 10.8-hectare site and the establishment of tourist and recreational facilities along the Shavat canal in Urgench.

A key focus of the meeting was the region’s young generation. Khorezm is home to over one million young residents, with 35,000 entering the labor market annually. The President stressed the importance of investing in their education, mastering modern professions, and employment, as well as instilling a sense of patriotism and respect for historical figures such as Jalaliddin Manguberdi, Al-Biruni, Khwarizmi, and Zamakhshari.

Particular attention was given to rural districts, which house 67 percent of the population. Priority measures include reducing unemployment and poverty through the creation of additional income sources. Promising initiatives include increasing livestock numbers in 135 neighborhoods across Gurlen, Tuprokkala, Yangibazar, and Koshkupir districts, developing construction materials, textiles, crafts, and furniture production in Urgench, Khanki, Koshkupir, and Shavat neighborhoods, and establishing six industrial and service microcenters in Urgench, Koshkupir, Khanki, Yangiyarik, and Shavat.

The meeting emphasized the need to increase investments and exports and implement large-scale industrial projects efficiently, leveraging the potential of Khazarasp, Urgench, Shavat, Tuprokkala districts, and the city of Urgench. The creation of a unified mechanical engineering cluster was discussed, including expanding the capacity of the Pitnak automobile plant and raising localization levels to 62 percent, along with projects in the chemical, textile, and food industries in Khazarasp and in furniture and textiles in Shavat.

It was reported that US$1.6 billion will be allocated for the modernization of cities and districts in the region, including improvements to road and water infrastructure. This year, the targets include increasing foreign investment to US$2 billion and exports to US$510 million, which is expected to raise the regional gross product by 8.4 percent, industrial production by 9 percent, services by 16.2 percent, and agriculture by 5.7 percent.

Special attention was given to reducing poverty, which stood at 6.7 percent in Khorezm last year, above the national average. The President instructed authorities to cut unemployment and poverty to at least three percent, aiming to transform Khazarasp, Khanki, Shavat, Yangiyarik, Yangibazar, Tuprokkala, Khiva, and Urgench into areas free from poverty and unemployment.

Specific directives include the reconstruction of 158 kilometers of canals in Gurlen district, allocating US$81 million for entrepreneurial projects, replacing 270 pumping units with energy-efficient equipment, funding the activities of the Uzbek-Turkmen border trade zone, and allocating 100 billion soums for the repair of social facilities and infrastructure.

The President stressed that all work should bring tangible improvements to people’s lives, be results-oriented, and ensure a targeted approach in every district and neighborhood.