Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 6 September, the Government Commission on the Development of Export and Investment under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and as part of the heads of ministries, departments, industry associations, commercial banks and local authorities summed up results of work on the study of investment, industrial and export potentials and identification of promising areas of economic development of the Bukhara region.

During the field work of the Commission members in the region from 2 to 6 September, the current state of 3,931 industrial enterprises was analyzed, as a result of which it was revealed that 677 enterprises have not been commissioned at present, have ceased or temporarily suspended their activities, reduced production volumes or tax revenues to the budget. Analysis of the reasons for these problems revealed that 128 enterprises faced problems in obtaining credit resources to replenish working capital and purchase technological equipment, 75 enterprises have problems connecting to utility networks, 25 enterprises are not provided with raw materials for production, 12 enterprises are in need of refund accounts receivable and 7 enterprises - in the return of previously paid amounts of value added tax. Also, issues were identified related to obtaining land plots, obtaining the necessary permits and licenses, international certificates, the absence of foreign customers, the supply of imported equipment and the dispatch of foreign specialists to Uzbekistan.

Prompt measures were taken to resolve these issues by the relevant heads of sectoral departments and associations, commercial banks, as well as local authorities in districts and cities of the region.

An in-depth analysis and optimization of the regional investment program was carried out: 915 investment projects worth 15.6 trillion soums, scheduled for implementation in 2020-2021, were studied, their economic efficiency was assessed and the schedules of their implementation were revised in order to accelerate the commissioning of projects aimed on the development of value chains with the highest rates of production, exports and the number of jobs created. As a result, the implementation of 26 projects worth 172.9 billion soums was postponed to 2021, instead of which, by the end of this year, 53 new industrial-oriented highly profitable projects worth 348.8 billion soums will be commissioned.

In the direction of deepening inter-sectoral cooperation, 41 projects were developed aimed at creating research and production clusters in the Bukhara region in 19 promising industries, such as textile, food, leather and footwear industries, the production of building materials, fish farming. So, in Bukhara and Romitan districts, it is planned to create 2 textile and knitted clusters, in which a full production cycle will be implemented: from cotton fiber processing to the production of finished garments and knitwear, and in Shafirkan, Romitan, Vobkent, Peshkun and Kagan districts, it is planned to create 6 clusters in the food industry.

In order to establish the functioning of these clusters, "Uzstandard" Agency will create testing laboratories providing for the introduction of innovative technologies to control the quality of products, as well as organize special programs for training, retraining and advanced training of personnel of the enterprises being created.

The structure and volumes of imports of the Bukhara region were studied, as a result of which specific commodity items were identified, the production of which, taking into account the available raw material potential, can be established in the region - equipment and components for the oil and gas sector, synthetic and blended textile materials, electrical products, construction materials and others. products. In addition to the existing localization program, 15 new projects were developed to organize import-substituting industries. In total, as a result of the implementation of 43 projects under the localization program, by the end of 2021, import-substituting products will be produced in the amount of 631.6 billion soums and about 1200 new jobs will be created, while a decrease in dependence on imports for certain types of products is expected at the level of 30 to 60 percent.

Measures have been developed to improve the efficiency of the functioning of free economic zones located on the territory of the Bukhara region - "Bukhara-agro" and "Gijduvan".

Currently, 69 projects worth US$245.9 million have been implemented in the free economic zone "Bukhara-Agro", due to which more than 2 thousand new jobs have been created. In 2020-2021. on the territory of this zone, it is planned to implement an additional 190 projects worth US$331.7 million, which will create about 1,200 new jobs. To date, 27 projects worth 66.9 million US dollars have been implemented in the free economic zone "Gijduvan" and about 1,500 new jobs have been created. Moreover, in 2020-2021. here it is planned to implement 23 projects worth US$164.4 million and create about 7 thousand new jobs.

In addition, in 13 small industrial zones of the region, by the end of 2020, it is planned to implement 98 investment projects with a total value of 248.5 billion soums, due to which more than 3.5 thousand new jobs will be created.

In order to fully use the economic potential of existing free economic zones and small industrial zones, 92.4 billion soums will be allocated by the end of this year, which will be directed to the development of engineering infrastructure and communications. Additionally, measures will be taken to timely connect 6 newly created small industrial zones to the gas, electricity and water supply networks.

As a result of the implementation of the measures developed in the course of the Commission’s work, by the end of 2020, industrial production is expected to increase in Bukhara region from 16.8 trillion soums to 18.8 trillion soums. At the same time, the volume of exports is expected at US$136.2 million. Due to the commissioning of idle industrial enterprises in the region, 23 thousand jobs will be restored. Industrial enterprises of the region will provide the state budget with 864 billion soums, which will amount to 148.5% of the forecast.

Control over the quality and timely implementation of the developed practical measures will be carried out by the General Prosecutor’s Office on an ongoing basis. On a monthly basis, the implementation progress will be considered at separate meetings of the Government Commission.