Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 July 2020, a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and including the heads of ministries, departments, industry associations and commercial banks left for Surkhandarya region to monitor the implementation of investment and infrastructure projects, identifying points of economic growth in the region, as well as studying the existing issues of entrepreneurs and exporters in order to provide prompt assistance in solving them.

The members of the working group with visits to enterprises conducted a study of the activities of entrepreneurs and exporters, as well as the current state of work on the modernization and expansion of the region’s infrastructure.

The analysis of the regional development program was carried out, within the framework of which in 2020-2021 in the region, it is planned to implement 1,449 investment projects worth 22.2 trillion soums.

At the same time, production facilities created within the framework of 1057 projects with a total value of 6.7 trillion soums will be put into operation no later than 1 July 2021. The promising areas in the region are agriculture, textile and food industries, as well as the production of building materials and tourism. The analysis revealed low indicators of attracting investments in Uzun, Muzrabad, Boysun, Angora and Sherabad districts of Surkhandarya region, in connection with which the heads of commercial banks were instructed to develop, together with the leaders of the relevant local authorities and private initiators, additional investment projects, the implementation of which will increase the pace of social -economic development of these areas.

The perspective industries that can become the drivers of the region’s economic development are considered separately: for example, the horticulture, pomegranate and viticulture sectors have significant potential. It was revealed that the region has a total of 0.6 thousand hectares of inefficiently used orchards and vineyards. Proposals have been developed for the optimization of these territories and the organization of new horticultural enterprises, due to which more than 1.1 thousand hectares of orchards and vineyards will be created, as well as 3 thousand hectares for growing pomegranates.

For the implementation of these projects, 103 initiators were identified, who will be provided with comprehensive assistance. Also, the responsible leaders were instructed to work on the formation of new projects in this direction with the aim of using additional 3.5 thousand hectares of land to create new gardens and vineyards. It was also pointed out that it is necessary to increase the level of processing of products, taking into account a 30 percent growth in the volume of fruit and fruit cultivation in the region projected by the end of 2021.

In the textile and knitwear industry, it is planned to implement 55 projects worth US$169 million, which will create 5.2 thousand new jobs. In this direction, it was instructed to pay attention to the production of finished products under well-known brands by establishing cooperation with leading foreign companies.

Also, taking into account the reserves of construction limestone, marble, granite, dolomite, travertine and other minerals in the region, 166 investment projects in the production of building materials were developed for a total of US$297.6 million.

Special attention within the framework of the regional development program was paid to the need to increase the level of localization of production in priority sectors, in connection with which the heads of industry associations were instructed to develop a localization program for Surkhandarya region containing promising projects in the electrical, leather and footwear, textile, pharmaceutical industries, as well as in the sphere of production of building materials. It was noted that taking into account the favorable geographical position of the region, bearing in mind the border with Afghanistan, the projects being developed should have significant export potential and meet the needs and requirements of foreign markets.

In this context, the group’s management made a trip to the territory of the border complex "Airit", where the existing infrastructure and the range of customs and logistics services provided were studied. Priorities for further improving the system of activities of the customs checkpoint for full and high-quality satisfaction of the needs of subjects of foreign economic activity, which will intensify cargo transportation in the Uzbek-Afghan direction and realize the potential of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, are outlined.

Particular attention was paid to measures to accelerate the implementation of large projects on the territory of the free economic zone "Termez", focused on the production of finished textile, leather, footwear and electrical products in order to maximize the use of the economic potential of the FEZ. To this end, the heads of the relevant departments were also instructed to expedite the work on the installation of the necessary engineering communications and the laying of highways.

The work done to increase the employment of the population was critically examined: unused opportunities were noted in the areas of fruit and vegetable production, animal husbandry, poultry farming, fish farming, beekeeping, handicrafts, as well as in the textile, food and jewelry industries.

Also, the progress of implementation of 13 infrastructure projects in the region was studied, the total amount of which is US$622.8 million, including projects for the modernization and reconstruction of the water supply system of Surkhandarya region in the amount of US$419.4 million and a number of projects for the construction of sewerage systems in cities and district centers of the region, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international financial institutions.

In addition, it is planned to implement 9 projects for the construction of highways worth US$805 million, including a project to reconstruct sections of the Bishkek-Dushanbe-Termez highway, as well as the M39 Tashkent-Termez highway. Based on the results of the study, targeted instructions were given to resolve existing issues and accelerate the implementation of these projects.

Following the visit to the region, further actions were planned to increase investment and foreign economic activity, the deployment of new jobs, the provision of targeted support to entrepreneurs and exporters with the assignment of specific responsible leaders and an indication of the deadlines for completing the tasks. Control over the execution of the above orders will be provided by the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.