In the free economic zone “Kokand” dozens of production facilities are operating effectively. The BNBM Building Materials Central Asia enterprise has recently opened here.
During the trip to the Fergana region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise.
30 million dollars of direct foreign investments have been invested in the project, the production of drywall and its decorative types with a capacity of 30 million and 4 million square meters per year, respectively, has been established. 200 new jobs have been created.
The ceremony of launching new production facilities in the Ferghana region was also held here. These are the enterprises “Fargona Yasin kurilish mollari” in Besharyk district, “Mollis” and “Proker" in Uchkuprik district, “Chinor plus – 2020" in Rishtan district, “Expo kollor prin tex" in Tashlak district, “Bahodir Logon textile" in Ferghana district, “Cement homashe savdosi” in Uzbekistan district, "Global Textile Infinity” in Kushtepa district, as well as branches of scientific and practical centers of emergency medical care and cardiology.
Then, under the chairmanship of the President, a meeting was held on attracting investments, developing industry and entrepreneurship. The leadership of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, khokims of all regions and districts joined the meeting via video link.
At the pre-election meeting, big plans were outlined to improve the life of the population, attract active investments in the economy of the region, and increase the incomes of residents of Fergana.
- The minister or khokim, who thinks that we have seven more years ahead and that it is possible to start work next year, is deeply mistaken. Because our people are already waiting for concrete results on every initiative put forward in the election programs. If the way of working from the very top to the mahalla does not change, if managers at all levels do not learn to work according to the principle "every new day is a new opportunity," we will lose time," Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The President noted that the indicators of some districts and cities of the Ferghana region for attracting foreign direct investment are unsatisfactory.
For example, only $ 25 million was invested in the city of Fergana in six months of last year, and the figure for the same period of this year is even lower - $ 12 million. The volume of foreign direct investment in the city of Margilan, Uzbekistan, Baghdad, Tashlak districts is less than half of last year's figure.
It is indicated that Fergana, which once occupied one of the leading places in industry, has now fallen to 12th place in the republic. Industrial potential is not being used enough. For example, in the first half of the year, industrial production in Tashlak decreased by 17 percent, in Kokand - by 3 percent, in Altyaryk - by 1.3 percent, in Kuva - by 1.2 percent.
The situation with providing the population with affordable housing is deplorable. Of the 212 houses that were planned to be built in the region this year, only 42 were commissioned.
The development of the service sector in the region is also unsatisfactory.
The number of regional enterprises that ceased operations in the six months of 2022 was 2.5 thousand, and today this figure has reached 14.5 thousand.
At the beginning of the year, 60 districts of the republic were included in the fourth and fifth categories, a separate program for their economic development was launched. In Ferghana, entrepreneurs of Furkat, Yazyavan and Sokh districts included in these categories have benefited from tax benefits worth 30 billion soums over the past six months. However, instead of improving the situation, the incomes of entrepreneurs decreased compared to last year.
The fact that large areas in industrial zones are empty is also criticized, the khokims of 19 districts and cities of the region do not use the available opportunities, offering unused plots to entrepreneurs.
- If there are many vacant places, the khokims do not get tired of asking to change the agricultural category of land to industrial. The saddest thing is that in the region there are cases of privatization of state-owned industrial facilities and the construction of individual housing on their territory," the head of our state said.
The Prosecutor General's Office and the Cadastral Agency are tasked with investigating such cases and ensuring the rule of law. It is determined that from now on decisions on changing the category of industrial land will be made only with the consent of the Government Commission.
It is emphasized that the work on the provision of cultivated land for rent is organized "for show", plots located far from the place of residence or water sources are allocated. According to the survey results, 32 percent of tenants did not receive any assistance from the district khokimiyats. It is noted that the measures taken to curb inflation and ensure price stability in the markets are also unsatisfactory.
A number of heads of the regional, city and district levels were dismissed from office due to serious shortcomings in their activities and improper organization of work.
In order to identify untapped opportunities of the region and their implementation, responsible persons of the republican level are assigned to each district and city. They identified additional reserves of $ 2 billion, met with entrepreneurs and formed projects.
- If the khokims find time, meet with entrepreneurs, delve into their problems, listen to their initiatives, then by the end of the year all districts of the region will easily be able to attract at least $ 100 million of investments, - said the head of our state.
The President showed these opportunities by the example of Kuva and Besharyk districts.
The President announced mobilization in all regions by the end of the year to implement the experiment that started in Ferghana. The task has been set to take measures to attract at least $100 million to each district by the end of the year.
Due to the increase in minimum consumer spending from 500 thousand to 570 thousand soums, another 9 thousand Ferghana families fall under the category of poor. In this regard, it was instructed to assign khokim assistants to each such family and take measures to increase their income.
It was instructed to replace 1,157 hectares of cultivated land put up for auction for agriculture, but left unclaimed, with plots convenient for the population and create at least 15,000 jobs on these lands.
At the end of the meeting, reports of the heads of regions and spheres were heard.