Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Republican Commission for the Development of the Export Potential of Regions and Industries, together with entrepreneurs and exporters of Syrdarya Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, studied the current activities and the implementation of measures to mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic.

During the visit, the activities of 1,132 enterprises of Syrdarya region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan were studied, during which 342 entrepreneurs implementing investment projects identified problematic issues.

At the same time, 158 cases of the need for allocation of credit resources to replenish working capital, 115 cases of the need to extend interest payments on loans already allocated, 20 cases associated with problems sending foreign specialists to Uzbekistan to install equipment and other difficulties caused by the need for allocation of land, vacant buildings and structures, obtaining international certificates, connecting to utilities. All issues were worked out and resolved on the spot with the involvement of heads of relevant government agencies and commercial banks.

Work was also carried out with all 202 exporting enterprises, as a result of which it was discovered that 61 entrepreneurs are currently faced with problems in production activities. 20 enterprises identified the need for loans to replenish working capital, 17 - requests for reimbursement of previously paid VAT amounts, 21 - lack of orders and the need to find new potential foreign buyers of domestic products.

Special attention was paid to optimizing the management of the free economic zones Sirdaryo, Sirdaryo-Farm and Nukus. The untapped economic potential was studied, new project proposals were worked out and prepared for implementation, and instructions were given to develop additional high-tech investment projects for the full use of the territory of the SEZ.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions abroad will attract potential foreign investors to implement the proposed projects, and commercial banks will determine the sources of financing and the selection of local partners for the creation of joint ventures.

Along with this, investment projects implemented under the integrated development programs of individual regions of the Syrdarya region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan were studied to identify specific initiators, funding sources and project locations.

The activities of 11 cotton clusters that process 85% of raw cotton grown in Syrdarya region and 90% in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as 16 clusters for the production and processing of fruit and vegetable products, which cover 507 farmers in two regions, are considered. New investment proposals have been prepared to increase the production capacities of existing clusters and create additional jobs.

Based on the results of the Commission’s work, programs of targeted measures to support entrepreneurs and exporters of Syrdarya region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan were formed, indicating responsible executives in the person of the heads of ministries, departments, local authorities, commercial banks and diplomatic missions abroad, specific deadlines and expected results.