New opportunities for the development and tasks for their implementation set for Syrdarya

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An extraordinary session of the Syrdarya Regional Kengash of people's deputies was held.  President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in it.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of our state emphasized that the large-scale changes in Syrdarya region are the result of reforms conducted under the noble principle "For human honor and dignity".

- This land used to rely on agriculture, but in recent years, industry, the service sector, and tourism have been formed from the ground up. The business environment has changed fundamentally, and a class of leading entrepreneurs has emerged, - noted the President.

Over the past eight years, $4 billion in investments have been attracted to Syrdarya region. During this period, 187 large-scale production facilities were commissioned, creating 120 thousand new jobs. The production of about 50 new types of products has been launched. As a result, the volume of industrial production has increased from 4 trillion to 25 trillion soums.

It was noted that Gulistan and Yangiyor cities, as well as Bayaut, Mirzaabad, Saykhunabad, Sirdarya, and Khavast districts, which previously received subsidies, have now achieved self-sufficiency.

Next year, a $122 million automobile production project will be launched in Syrdarya district in partnership with Chinese companies. Recently, the Central Asia International Center for Industrial Cooperation was launched in the district jointly with Kazakhstan. On its territory, 14 industrial enterprises with a total value of $300 million will begin operations by the end of the first quarter of next year, and another 40 new projects worth $720 million are planned for 2026.

The Head of State also touched upon the accomplished work to increase capacity in kindergartens, schools, and medical institutions, and to improve the provision of electricity, water, sewage, and road infrastructure in Syrdarya.

This year alone, $100 million was allocated to improve the living conditions of the population. As a result, 47 schools, 45 kindergartens, 31 medical institutions, and 5 sports and cultural facilities have been completely renovated and supplied with modern equipment. It was announced that these efforts will be consistently continued, and an additional $100 million will be allocated for these purposes next year.

The session also reviewed an organizational matter. The President proposed a candidacy of acting khokim Erkin Turdimov to the post of khokim of Syrdarya region. Following discussions with regional community, the candidacy was put to a vote. Based on the voting results, Erkin Turdimov was confirmed as the khokim of Syrdarya region.

The Head of State set specific tasks for the new regional leader for the further development of Syrdarya. Specifically, the need to attract a total of $3 billion in investments, increase the export volume to $500 million, and create 185 thousand new jobs in the coming years was emphasized.

The meeting addressed issues of further developing the region's industry, service sector and agriculture, as well as improving infrastructure.

In recent years, in cooperation with Chinese investors, 31 enterprises with a total value of $500 million have been commissioned in the region, providing 5 thousand residents with high-paying jobs. Work is currently in active phase on another 40 projects worth $700 million with Chinese partners.

By incorporating land plots from the cities of Yangiyor, Gulistan, and Shirin, as well as Syrdarya, Bayaut, Gulistan, Mirzaabad, Akaltyn, and Khavast districts, the area of the Syrdarya free industrial zone has been expanded by 1,080 hectares. The regional and district khokims were instructed on the importance of launching projects with a total value of at least $4 billion in these new areas.

To this end, instructions have been given to thoroughly calculate the effectiveness of projects and prepare their presentations for investors, as well as to send a delegation to the People's Republic of China, comprising the khokims of Syrdarya, Bayaut, Gulistan, Mirzaabad, Akaltyn, and Khavast districts, along with the cities of Yangiyor, Gulistan and Shirin.

An objective has been set to establish direct cooperation with China's Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong provinces in the construction materials sector, with the city of Tianjin in the chemical industry, with Fujian province the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in electrical engineering, with the Shandong and Xinjiang regions in light industry, and with the city of Shanghai and Jiangxi province in the pharmaceutical sector.

The establishment of an "Uzbekistan – Shanghai Cooperation Organization" trade and industrial zone in the city of Gulistan, with at least 5 thousand jobs, is also planned. Facilities within this zone will be offered to entrepreneurs as turnkey projects under industrial mortgage or leasing terms.

It was noted that during the phased relocation of industrial enterprises from Tashkent, the available plots in the Syrdarya Free Economic Zone present significant opportunities for accommodating existing production capacities. In this regard, entrepreneurs intending to relocate their businesses from the capital to Syrdarya region will be provided with land plots in the industrial zone through a simplified procedure and on preferential terms. They will be allocated concessional loans of up to 10 billion soums, and reduced tariffs will apply to the transportation of raw materials by railroad.

Issues of entrepreneurship and service infrastructure development were also discussed at the meeting.

In 2026, it is planned to allocate 1,5 trillion soums to improve the region's infrastructure and 10 trillion soums for the implementation of entrepreneurial projects. Of this amount, 753 billion soums will, for the first time, be allocated to the regional and district budgets of Syrdarya to improve conditions in mahallas.

The President highlighted that implementing innovative approaches and effective solutions in ensuring employment and reducing poverty requires a continuous study and practical experience.

To this end, instructions were given to organize an internship for the first deputy khokims of 11 districts at the International Poverty Reduction Center in Beijing, as well as to send 50 young people from Syrdarya to study car maintenance courses in Beijing.

Furthermore, instructions were given to organize a vocational training center at Gulistan State University under the Chinese "Luban Workshop" program, and establish an institution of higher education in pharmaceutical technologies jointly with China on the basis of the medical college in the Syrdarya district.

Particular attention was paid to the development of agriculture.

Next year, the construction of the "Sultonhovuz" reservoir, with a capacity of 100 million cubic meters, will begin in the Bayaut district. This will make it possible to harvest crops twice a year on 110 thousand hectares of land in the Bayaut, Gulistan, Saykhunabad, Syrdarya, and Mirzaabad districts.

The meeting also paid special attention to initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life and enhancing business conditions.

It was instructed to begin the reconstruction of a 37-kilometer section of the A-373 highway passing through the Saykhunabad and Gulistan districts, expanding its capacity to six lanes. The paving of 67 kilometers of roads with cement concrete is planned in 18 mahallas of Bayaut, Gulistan, Khavast, Mirzaabad, Syrdarya and Saykhunabad districts.

Two days ago, 29 people were injured as a result of a gas cylinder explosion at a public catering facility located within a clothing market in the Tarakkiyot mahalla of Gulistan.

Unfortunately, the tragic accident resulted in fatalities. The President expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims. Instructions were given to provide them with financial assistance of 100 million soums within three days.

-Today, we have outlined ambitious plans and objectives for the further development of the region, improving the quality of life of the population, and enhancing conditions for entrepreneurs. No doubt, by relying on the creative, proactive, and selfless qualities of the people of Syrdarya, we will definitely achieve these goals, - noted the President, concluding the meeting.

During the meeting, reports, proposals, opinions were heard from responsible officials and participants. 

With this, the President has concluded his trip to the region and returned to Tashkent.