President outlines priorities for the Fergana region’s development

The Head of State began by highlighting the significant changes in the region’s economy in recent years.

Through investments totaling $8.2 billion, around 8,000 modern production facilities have been launched. Some 100 trillion soums have been allocated to support entrepreneurship, while commercial space has expanded by 10 million square meters. In total, 13,500 small and medium-sized enterprises have been established, nearly doubling their number.

As a result, the gross regional product has grown 1.7-fold, industrial output by 1.5 times, and the service sector has tripled. Notably, over the past four years, the unemployment rate has declined from 9.2% to 4.6%, while the poverty rate has fallen from 11.6% to 5.2%.

Significant work is being carried out to improve housing conditions for the population. On the site of 241 outdated houses in the Ipakchi and Kirguli mahallas of Margilan, apartment buildings with 2,500 units have been built. This year, another 6,500 families will move into the “Yangi Uzbekistan” residential complex under construction in Navruz mahalla. Similar work is also underway in the Yazyavan and Quva districts, as well as in the cities of Kokand and Fergana.

Over the past decade, schools with capacity for 74,000 students, kindergartens accommodating 145,000 children, and hospitals with 3,000 beds have been established in the region. In addition, 167 private schools have been opened, providing education to more than 40,000 students. As a result of improved education quality, the Fergana region now ranks third nationwide in university admissions.

In agriculture, 15,000 hectares of industrial orchards and vineyards have been created, while another 6,000 hectares of orchards have been restored. Exports of fruits and vegetables have increased threefold, reaching $400 million.

Tourism is actively developing in the Fergana, Sokh, and Quva districts, as well as in the cities of Margilan and Kokand. Last year, the number of foreign tourists exceeded 500,000 for the first time, while domestic tourist numbers surpassed 3 million. Exports of tourism services reached $185 million.

“The people of Fergana expect even greater results from us,” President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

In this regard, the region has been tasked this year with ensuring economic growth of 9.1%, industrial growth of 9%, attracting $4.5 billion in foreign investment, and doubling exports to $2 billion.

It was emphasized at the meeting that the Fergana region should become a model for the widespread adoption of modern technologies, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence across public administration, industry, the service sector, and agriculture.

The Fergana region has the highest number of young people who have received certificates under the “Five Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders” program. Regional and district leaders have been instructed to digitize services and processes in state bodies with the active involvement of talented youth, and to enhance convenience for citizens and entrepreneurs. The importance of using artificial intelligence to analyze the comparative advantages of mahallas and to develop projects aimed at creating jobs, increasing added value, and boosting incomes was emphasized.

For example, an AI-based assessment of the potential of the Yazyavan district identified logistics as a key priority for the local economy. Around 30,000 vehicles pass daily along a 35-kilometer section of the A-373 highway running through the district. In this regard, the task has been set to increase economic turnover by an additional 1 trillion soums through the expansion of logistics centers, large warehouse complexes, and roadside service infrastructure.

In recent years, the volume of IT services in the Fergana region has grown fourfold, with exports exceeding $23 million. Starting from the new academic year, and based on the experience of the Quva district, training in programming, robotics, graphic design, and foreign languages will be organized in 16 additional districts through technical colleges. Plans are also in place to open a branch of IT Park University in Fergana and a branch of Inha University in Margilan, with the capacity to train up to 1,000 students annually in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering.

Special attention was also paid to the development of e-commerce. It was noted that the Fergana region’s share in this area remains low. In this regard, the need to establish warehousing infrastructure of at least 100,000 square meters in the region was highlighted, including the commissioning of 30,000 square meters this year. The task was set to train entrepreneurs in 126 mahallas specializing in industry and crafts in the use of e-commerce platforms.

Issues related to the efficient use of available agricultural resources were also discussed. The region has 370,000 hectares of irrigated land, of which 55,000 hectares are occupied by orchards and vineyards. However, 5,500 hectares of orchards and vineyards are outdated, while 6,000 hectares of steppe and hilly land are not being used effectively. It was noted that unlocking this potential would generate an additional 300,000 tons of fruit and vegetable production, as well as 2 trillion soums in added value for the economy.

The experience of the “Quva Agrostar” agro-complex was highlighted. Based on cooperative practices, it is developing small processing facilities for household plots and dehkan farms, organizing training courses for farmers, supplying seedlings grown in in vitro laboratories, and supporting the export of finished products. The need to implement similar approaches in all districts and to completely renew the 5,500 hectares of outdated orchards was emphasized.

A large-scale program will be developed in the region to create super-intensive orchards on the site of 50,000 hectares of low-yielding cotton and grain fields, as well as inefficient orchards. It was noted that this year the region is to produce 611,000 tons of fruit, 252,000 tons of grapes, 1.8 million tons of vegetables, and 119,000 tons of rice, and to increase fruit and vegetable exports by 25 percent to $500 million.

The Head of State also addressed investment issues. The region has been tasked with ensuring the effective use of 1,077 hectares of land allocated for industrial zones, with a key criterion being annual production of goods worth at least 50 billion soums per hectare. Instructions were given to begin implementing investment projects worth $5 billion in these zones.

Proposals to establish a free trade zone in the Andarkhan mahalla of the Besharik district, as well as to build a large shopping complex worth $70 million on the site of the mechanical plant in Kokand, were supported.

It was noted that there are also significant opportunities in the tourism sector.

“In Fergana, which combines historical monuments and unique nature, the flow of foreign tourists can be increased by another two to three times,” President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was noted that, to this end, the cities of Kokand and Margilan should be developed as centers of pilgrimage tourism, while the Sokh, Quva, Besharik, and Fergana districts should specialize in medical and ecotourism. It was also noted that an emergency response center has been established at the Karkidon reservoir in the Quva district to ensure the safety of visitors. The task was set to gradually transform other reservoirs in the country into comfortable recreational areas for the population and tourists.

It was emphasized that the opening of the Burkhoniddin Marginoniy complex in Margilan represents an important step in showcasing the national values and rich historical heritage of the country to the world. In the Fergana district, projects such as the development of the Shakhimardan–Yordon international resort area, the Vodil raspberry agritourism cluster, the Avval entertainment tourism complex, and the Chimgan sanatorium-resort zone are being implemented. By the end of next year, 50 tourism projects worth $300 million are planned to be launched.

In Kokand, three walking tour routes have been developed, covering 64 cultural heritage sites. Instructions were given for the phased relocation of state institutions currently housed in these heritage buildings, along with their transformation into tourist and cultural spaces.

It was noted that the Sokh district has significant potential for the development of ecotourism, agritourism, and medical tourism. Tasks were set to build a large tourist complex on a 130-hectare site along the section of the Sokh River passing through the Sarikanda, Istiklol, and Rovon mahallas, as well as to develop a master plan for the district’s development with the involvement of foreign specialists. The adoption of a three-year program for the comprehensive renewal of the district’s appearance was also announced.

The meeting also addressed issues related to the study and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of the Fergana region.

It was proposed to create an anthology and an electronic platform for the Kokand Literary Environment, as well as to establish a School of Literature and Creativity. To promote reading among young people, model libraries will be created in 100 mahallas across the region. Entrepreneurs opening book cafés will be granted tax incentives and rental preferences. An initiative was also put forward to hold an International Reading Festival every two years at the Burkhoniddin Marginoniy complex, with the participation of renowned writers and poets from around the world.

Special attention was paid to the preservation and development of the art of askiya, an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Fergana region. It was noted that the Yusufjon Kizik Shakarjonov Republican Center for the Art of Askiya and Humor has been established in Margilan. The task was set to support young talent and to open dedicated departments for askiya and humor in district cultural centers, as well as in music and art schools.

During the meeting, reports from regional and district leaders were heard, along with the views of entrepreneurs and public representatives.