Results of reforms and priority tasks in Syrdarya region discussed

It was noted that as a result of the transformations carried out in recent years, significant structural changes have occurred in the region’s economy. In a region that had previously relied mainly on agriculture, industry and the service sector have developed rapidly, the business environment has improved, and a class of advanced entrepreneurs has emerged.

Last year, the Syrdarya region’s economy grew by 9.8 percent. The region ranked fourth in industrial production growth, with an increase of 8.2 percent. The volume of gross regional product per capita is also steadily increasing – if in 2017 it amounted to 10 million UZS, by 2025 it had reached 38.1 million UZS, that is, it increased by almost 3.8 times.

Last year, 42 major investment projects totaling more than $333 million were implemented in the region. Within the framework of these projects, more than 17.5 thousand new jobs were created.

Particular attention at the meeting was given to efforts to transform Syrdarya region into an advanced innovation hub based on the Chinese experience. Direct cooperation has been established with Chinese provinces.

In addition, during visits to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, negotiations were held with several investors, and projects totaling hundreds of millions of dollars were finalized. In particular, agreements were reached on projects to establish a livestock complex in Gulistan district, valued at $300 million, and to produce baby food. In cooperation with the French company Bonduelle, a food production project is planned for the city of Yangiyer.

At the same time, new investment initiatives are being developed in the digital economy, the cosmetics industry, the agricultural sector, and the processing industry. In particular, projects have been established to establish a data processing center in the city of Shirin and acceleration and incubation centers in the city of Gulistan.

At the meeting, the task was set to attract $3 billion in investment to the region this year and to increase exports to $500 million. This will make it possible to increase the gross regional product by 9 percent, industry by 8.2 percent, the service sector by 15.4 percent, agriculture by 6.8 percent, and the volume of construction by 15 percent.

Special attention was also given to issues of employment and poverty reduction. Last year, the poverty rate decreased from 11.3 percent to 6.2 percent. However, this indicator remains above the national average.

This year, 10 trillion UZS have been allocated to support entrepreneurial projects. With these funds, it is planned to provide employment for 185 thousand people and reduce the unemployment and poverty rates to 4.6 and 3 percent, respectively. Measures will be taken to transform the cities of Gulistan, Shirin, and Yangiyer, as well as the Sardoba, Saykhunabad, Syrdarya, and Khavas districts, into territories free of unemployment and poverty.

To achieve this, as noted at the meeting, it is necessary to continue supporting entrepreneurship and creating new jobs and sources of income for the population in mahallas, within the framework of programs such as “Hardworking Woman”, “Equal Opportunities – Inclusive Employment”, and “One Mahalla – One Product”.

Issues related to the development of social infrastructure were also discussed. Using the allocated $100 million, it was instructed to renovate 47 schools, 45 kindergartens, 35 medical institutions, and 18 sports and cultural facilities in the region.

Last year, the issue of an uninterrupted water supply for 22,000 households in Gulistan was resolved. A permanent supply of drinking water was provided to 12,000 households in Mirzaabad, Sardoba, Bayaut, and Khavas districts, and the city of Yangiyer.

As part of the development of engineering infrastructure, it is planned this year to build 349 kilometers of power lines, install 99 transformers, and, through the expansion of water supply networks, increase the level of access to drinking water for the population to 89.5 percent.

In addition, housing construction continues in the region. In 2026, it is planned to build 80 apartment buildings with 3.5 thousand apartments, including 1.5 thousand apartments in the “New Uzbekistan” residential complexes, as well as new housing within the framework of the renovation program.

The need to effectively utilize the opportunities of agriculture was particularly emphasized. Syrdarya has a significantly higher per capita indicator of arable land than many other regions, as well as a good water supply. However, it was noted that exports of fruits and vegetables do not yet exceed $60 million.

In this regard, it is planned to establish the company Sirdaryo Agro Invest and, using water-saving and advanced agrotechnologies, to form profitable cultivated areas in Khavas district, which will then be offered to the population as ready-made businesses. Initially, it is planned to introduce this mechanism across 12,000 hectares of land.

Tasks were set to improve water supply on 20.8 thousand hectares of land and save 748 million cubic meters of water.

At the meeting, the implementation of the pilot project “Smart Village” in several mahallas of Khavas district, based on Hungarian experience, was also discussed. It will allow the population, through an open digital system, to receive information on the transparency of funds allocated to mahallas, security, the state of the environment, support for families in need, and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Following the meeting, several specific instructions were given to responsible officials. In particular, tasks were defined to place investment projects in the “Sirdaryo” Free Economic Zone in the city of Gulistan that envisage the creation of at least 5,000 jobs, launch a 100-million-dollar project for the production of solar panels, and modernize the transformers at the “Feruz” substation.

In addition, tasks were set to develop a feasibility study for the construction of the “Sultankhovuz” reservoir in Bayaut district, to attract funds from international financial institutions for the repair of regional roads, to establish an agro-complex for the storage and processing of pomegranates in Mirzaabad district, and to open modern centers for growing seedlings.

Also paying particular attention to training youth in modern professions and foreign languages, the President of the country emphasized the need to organize qualification assessment centers in accordance with international standards and to train at least 2,000 young people.

The Head of State noted that every project implemented in the region should be reflected in practice in the incomes and living standards of the population and gave corresponding instructions for the timely and high-quality implementation of the assigned tasks.