Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 December, a video conference meeting was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the further expansion of production and development of the service sector in the regions.

Due to events taking place in the world, prices for raw materials and products necessary for the economy of our country, as well as the costs of their delivery, are rising. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to deeply process our own raw materials and increase the output of competitive products.

At the meeting, measures were identified to improve the system of work in this direction. Thus, from now on, issues of production, industrial zones and local exports will be dealt with by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Regional departments and district departments of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade will be abolished. The export support agency and fund, the Uzbekspertiza structure, will also be transferred to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry system.

- We are transferring the design and export system from the state to an organization managed by the entrepreneurs themselves. This is necessary so that entrepreneurs are heard, and their requests and opinions are properly taken into account, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The head of state pointed out new opportunities for increasing production and exports.

Today, some types of fabrics and synthetic yarns used in the textile industry are imported. In this regard, many projects have been launched aimed at increasing the localization and export of these products.

For example, projects are planned to launch fabric production and create dyeing factories worth US$350 million in Yukorichirchik district, artificial fiber, weaving and dyeing production worth US$60 million in the city of Nukus. It is planned to produce curtains and furniture fabrics made from artificial fiber in Andijan and Samarkand. A textile industrial zone will be created in Pakhtaabad district. It is planned to implement 15 projects for the production of synthetic fibers in Karakalpakstan and 6 regions.

Overall, it was noted that the textile industry could generate another US$700 million in added value next year. Therefore, a new procedure will be introduced to support enterprises in this sector. To achieve this, US$200 million will be allocated as a resource for new value-added projects. The state will cover the costs of building treatment facilities for dyeing plants. Textile industry enterprises that have implemented international sanitary standards will be allocated subsidies in the amount of up to 100 million soums.

It was emphasized that to ensure product quality it is necessary to attract designers, marketers and constructors from abroad.

One of the most important factors for the successful launch of products on the world market is the presence of a brand. Domestic products labeled “Made in Uzbekistan” are little quoted on the foreign market, since they do not have a brand.

Therefore, the President emphasized the need to support not only the sales of our country’s products, but also brand recognition in foreign markets.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is tasked with supporting local textile, clothing, carpet, footwear, leather accessories, food, household and building materials businesses to connect with specialist sourcing companies and adapt to brand requirements.

Instructions were given to expand the participation of domestic enterprises in international exhibitions and to open trading houses in the cities of Europe and Asia.

Our country also has every opportunity for brands to locate their production facilities here. For example, next year a plant with a capacity of 2.5 million aluminum containers using German technology will open in Chirchik. This is a source of materials not only for manufacturers of soft drinks, but also for cosmetics, household chemicals, and food companies. It is necessary to use such opportunities to attract prestigious brands to Uzbekistan, it was noted at the meeting.

To achieve this, new approaches will be introduced:

- enterprises launching the production of branded products will be reimbursed for the costs of implementing international standards, environmental requirements and certification;

- all raw materials necessary for them will be exempt from customs duties, subject to localization of at least 60 percent;

- entrepreneurs who produce at least 30 percent of their products under the brand will be provided with benefits and preferences provided for enterprises with foreign investment;

- technologists, designers, marketers and other specialists hired from large brands will not be charged for work in Uzbekistan.

Our country has a huge raw material base for the chemical industry. Currently, the industry has formed projects with a total value of US$3 billion.

The electrical industry is capable of delivering US$2 billion worth of projects. For example, the 27 gigawatt solar and wind power plants under construction in our country require US$500 million worth of cable products. Similarly, there is a high demand for equipment such as home appliances and transformers.

Five projects worth US$120 million are aimed at localizing these products, which will be launched next year in the Ohangaron industrial zone, as well as a technology park worth US$120 million being created in the city of Bukhara.

Tasks have been set to increase production volumes in these industries.

The head of state paid special attention to the issue of industrial development of the regions of Karakalpakstan and the city of Nukus. US$100 million in low-interest resources have been allocated to expand production in this area. 23 promising projects have been formed, to which regions of the republic and commercial banks are assigned. Responsible persons provided information on the implementation of these projects.

Issues of further expanding opportunities in the services and tourism sectors were also discussed at the meeting.

Over the 11 months of this year, services worth 421 trillion soums were provided, which is 13.6 percent more than last year. The share of services in the economy is expected to exceed 43 percent by the end of the year. But these indicators are not enough, it was indicated at the meeting. There is great potential in the fields of finance, transport, tourism, education, medicine and information technology.

The Business Development Bank and the Entrepreneurship Development Company were recently created. From 1 January 2024, microfinance banks will be launched providing basic banking services. Based on this, financial services are expected to increase by 30 percent next year.

Work is underway to place Eurobonds in the amount of US$500 million.

To stimulate entrepreneurship, it was decided to allocate, within the framework of the “Family Entrepreneurship” program, unsecured loans in the amount of up to 50 million soums to individuals who have opened their own small business and have a positive credit history, and up to 100 million soums to those wishing to expand their activities. business activities. A proposal to provide loans to self-employed people taking their first steps in business was also approved.

A quarter of the total volume of services in our country comes from the transport sector. This year, about 1.5 thousand buses and 25 new aircraft were delivered. Private airlines have started operating, 17 routes have been opened.

In continuation of this work, instructions were given to increase bus routes and flights between the cities of our country, regions and neighboring countries.

In the railway sector, tariffs were revised and unnecessary benefits were cancelled. The delivery of 6 high-speed trains and 30 electric trains is in progress. This will ensure 20 percent growth in the sector next year.

The private sector of education and medicine is rapidly developing in our country. The possibility of putting up empty land plots for targeted auctions for the creation of private educational organizations and clinics is indicated.

Today, the share of IT services in our GDP is 3-3.5 percent. The importance of increasing the volume of services in this area to 41 trillion soums and doubling exports, ensuring at least 30 percent growth next year, was emphasized.

Our country has great tourism potential. It is emphasized that to effectively use this, it is necessary to increase the number of hotels and guest houses.

It was decided to prepare master plans for historical and resort tourist sites and allocate additional funds for their infrastructure. Along with the repair of the roads leading to them, the task has been set to place trade and service points along them.

As foreign experience shows, tourists are often attracted by the opportunity to purchase jewelry. Although our country has sufficient conditions for this, such products are produced in small quantities. In this regard, it has been instructed to organize modern jewelry complexes in each region starting next year.

A proposal was also made to organize an international fashion week “Uzbek Silk” in our country.

It was noted that it is necessary to improve the convenience of our markets for tourists. The importance of turning them into complexes where tourists can spend a long time, into a “calling card” reflecting our culture, was emphasized.

As a result of these measures, more than 2 million people will be able to be employed in the service and tourism sectors, it was noted at the meeting.

At the meeting, reports from industry and regional leaders and proposals from entrepreneurs were heard.