Shavkat Mirziyoyev Outlines Strategic Tasks for Namangan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the situation center of the Namangan region, where he heard reports from responsible officials regarding the development of the region. The meeting addressed digitalization of public administration, socioeconomic indicators, employment, investment, and infrastructure.

A "smart" situation center operates in Namangan, providing analysis of processes in cities and districts through a unified digital system and prompt management decision-making. The President was presented with the project of the "Mahalla Information and Service Center" in the Naryn district, through which it is planned to provide 980 types of services to more than 27,000 residents of eight mahallas on a "one-stop shop" principle. Data on social protection, employment, taxes, education, and crime prevention will be integrated into the unified digital system. Prevention inspectors are equipped with tablets featuring 18 digitized processes and modern body cameras, and their work is directly connected to the situation center.

The head of state also familiarized himself with new priorities for the socioeconomic development of the region. The volume of industrial production in the region grew from 4.6 trillion to 40 trillion soums. For the current year, tasks have been set to increase the gross regional product by 9.2 percent, industry by 9 percent, the services sector by 17 percent, and agriculture by 6.8 percent. Mechanical engineering, metallurgy, light industry, the services sector, and areas of the new economy have been identified as the main growth drivers.

For scientific support of regional development, 14 "think tanks" of the country will switch to a new format of work based on the Namangan model. By 1 September current year, they will conduct an economic diagnosis of districts and cities, and responsible officials are required to develop a new program based on the results of studying the industrial potential of each territory.

For the development of entrepreneurship and business infrastructure in the current year, 4.5 trillion soums have been allocated from the budget, and 6.5 trillion soums are being directed to support small and medium-sized businesses. By the end of the year, the region must provide permanent employment for 80,000 people, increase the income of 314,000 citizens, and lift 21,000 families out of poverty. During five months of the current year, 23.5 thousand people received jobs, and more than 8,000 families were lifted out of poverty. At the same time, the President criticized the remaining high level of unemployment and poverty in a number of districts.

In the agricultural sector, instructions were given to develop livestock breeding in the Kasansay district, double the number of livestock, and expand the fodder base on an area of 4.7 thousand hectares. In the Pap district, it is planned to use hilly lands more efficiently and establish industrialized organic orchards on an area of another 400 hectares, while practical work on an additional 2.8 thousand hectares must begin within a month.

The issues of youth preparation were considered separately. In Namangan, it is planned to create at least five private training and assessment centers of international level and cover 20,000 young people with training already in the current year.

In terms of attracting investments and increasing exports, the goal has been set to attract US$5 billion of foreign investments and bring exports to US$1.2 billion. At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, agreements were reached on the implementation of 43 projects in the region worth US$3 billion.

For the construction of 130 kilometers of water supply networks, 9 water facilities, and 2.5 kilometers of sewerage networks, 703 billion soums have been allocated. This will allow for the first time providing centralized water supply to 34,000 residents and connecting 25,000 citizens to the sewerage system. Reconstruction of a 75-kilometer section of the "Pungan — Namangan" road into a four-lane concrete highway, the construction of 21 bridges, and 22 pedestrian crossings are also planned. By 1 September current year, it is planned to purchase 90 buses, 50 electric buses, and 30 microbuses.

In the field of healthcare, a new model of primary health care will be introduced in the Kosonsay and Uychi districts, and from October, a national program to combat myocardial infarction and stroke will start in the Namangan, Andijan, and Ferghana regions.

The meeting also discussed issues of reducing the shadow economy, crime prevention, and targeted work with youth. Reports from deputy prime ministers, heads of regions, and other responsible officials were heard.