Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the outcomes of recent reforms and new development plans for the Samarkand region.

Samarkand is one of the country’s largest regions with a rapidly growing population, which increases demand for housing, infrastructure, jobs, education, and healthcare. Over the past eight years, more than 1,100 apartment buildings have been constructed here, improving living conditions for 56,000 families. Preschool enrollment has risen from 21 to 73 percent, while higher education coverage has increased from 10 to 45 percent. The region’s economy is showing dynamic growth through the development of the textile, electrical engineering, and metallurgy industries, as well as construction materials production and tourism.

The poverty rate in the region has decreased from 7.5 to 6.9 percent. By the end of the year, 150,000 people are expected to gain employment, while around 90,000 citizens will be lifted out of poverty. Industrial output has grown 1.7 times over the past eight years, exceeding 45 trillion soums. However, industrial development remains uneven: the bulk is concentrated in Samarkand and several major districts, while in some areas this sector is still underdeveloped.

To address this imbalance and accelerate growth, a reform headquarters has been established at the initiative of the President. Among the new projects is an industrial zone in the Nurabad district covering 115 hectares with US$472 million in investment and the creation of 1,200 jobs, as well as a granite mining and processing project in the Kushrabod district involving a Chinese investor. In the Bulungur district, an entrepreneur has opened an in vitro laboratory and launched a seed potato brand, while plans are underway to build a biopharmaceutical plant worth US$100 million in the same district.

In total, 14 new projects worth US$1.2 billion have been prepared in the region. They are expected to create 12,000 jobs and generate US$82 million in export revenue. The head of state endorsed the initiatives, instructed to speed up their implementation, and emphasized the importance of ensuring balanced development across all cities and districts of the region.