Uzbekistan Outlines Tasks to Fully Harness Surkhandarya Region’s Potential

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 24 December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting focused on the socio-economic development, job creation, and poverty reduction in Surkhandarya region.

Over the past eight years, the region has attracted US$3 billion in foreign investments and launched about 4,000 industrial enterprises. This year, industrial production is expected to double to 17.2 trillion soums. Emerging sectors include leather and footwear production, jewelry, building materials manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.

In the social sphere, approximately 126,000 families are expected to be lifted out of poverty in 2025, reducing the poverty rate from 9.3% to 5.6%. Additionally, a pipeline from the Topalang Reservoir has resolved drinking water issues for 2 million residents across several districts, including Sherabad, Baysun, Bandikhan, Muzrabat, Altynsay, Angor, Jarkurgan, and Denau.

Despite substantial natural resources and developed infrastructure, Surkhandarya lags behind other regions in industrial and agricultural output, services, and tourism. Its industrial production is 1.5 times lower than Syrdarya, 1.8 times lower than Jizzakh, and half that of Khorezm. Fruit and vegetable exports also trail behind Samarkand, Tashkent, Fergana, and Khorezm. Only a small portion of the region’s estimated US$600 billion in mineral resources is currently utilized.

The President set the goal of transforming Surkhandarya into a region with the fastest growth in investment, job creation, household incomes, and exports. This includes launching new projects based on 114 mineral deposits, with 91 projects valued at US$3.2 billion, including US$2 billion planned for next year.

Infrastructure development will receive 175 billion soums to implement 36 projects worth a total of 1.2 trillion soums, creating 9,000 jobs. In tourism, emphasis was placed on expanding hotel capacity, including 4- and 5-star hotels, and developing new routes in high-potential areas such as Baysun, Sangardak, and Omankhona.

Agriculture will also be strengthened: 60% of fruit and vegetable production is concentrated in Denau, Sherabad, Kumkurgan, Jarkurgan, Muzrabat, and Saryasiya districts. The President instructed expanding export-oriented projects to Angor, Kyzyrik, Termez, Uzun, and other specialized areas.

During the meeting, the regional governor presented implementation plans, and the President issued detailed instructions on road repairs, housing construction, and improvements in social infrastructure, emphasizing a systematic approach to the region’s development.