Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 7 December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting focused on leveraging the untapped potential of the Navoi region, creating new jobs, and attracting investments.

The Navoi region boasts significant potential due to its advanced infrastructure, industrial base, and natural resources. Over the past seven years, US$8 billion has been invested in the region, enabling the implementation of 6,500 projects. This year alone, 577 projects worth US$2.2 billion are being completed.

During the President’s previous visit to the region, directives were issued to further develop the economy and identify new areas for growth. At the meeting, proposals based on these directives were reviewed. In Karmana district, plans are underway to establish new industrial enterprises on grazing lands near the chemical technopark. With the necessary infrastructure and raw material base in place, projects for producing kaolin, quartz, silicon dioxide, and textile dyes are expected to launch next year.

Chinese investors have expressed interest in extracting and processing quartz and granite in the Khatyrchi district. Additionally, 11 deposits of natural resources in Kanimekh, Navbahor, and Uchkuduk districts have been identified for development.

Around Lake Aydarkul, a 150-hectare recreational zone is being established to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists, creating 200 jobs. In the villages of Sentob, Langar, and Angidon in Nurata and Khatyrchi districts, 200 family guesthouses are planned, potentially attracting up to 600,000 tourists annually and providing employment for 500 people.

Navoi region contains 43% of the country’s grazing lands, yet only 5% of these are currently utilized. To address this, drones will be used to plant forage, medicinal, and aromatic crops on 350,000 hectares of land adapted to local conditions. These lands will subsequently be allocated to the population.

Furthermore, goat and sheep farming will be expanded in Tamdy and Uchkuduk districts.

The Tamdy and Nurata districts are particularly suited for producing construction materials, livestock farming, and tourism development. The Khatyrchi district specializes in textiles and horticulture, where a modern laboratory for certifying organic and GMO-free products is being established. Intensive orchards and vineyards will also be developed on 500 hectares in Khatyrchi and 200 hectares in Navbahor districts.

Efforts are underway to encourage the cultivation of high-demand crops. For example, sunflower seeds imported from Italy will be planted on 10,000 hectares as a secondary crop, providing additional income for 5,000 families and producing oil sufficient to meet the region’s annual needs.

In the first 11 months of this year, 111,000 people found employment in the region. By 2025, plans include employing 140,000 people and assisting 10,000 families in overcoming poverty.

At the meeting, the khokim of Navoi region presented plans to tap into regional reserves, attract US$2 billion in investments, and boost exports to US$320 million by 2025.

The President noted that these targets do not fully reflect the region’s potential and instructed a revision of the plans. Particular emphasis was placed on implementing new projects in Kanimekh, Nurata, Khatyrchi, and Tamdy districts. The importance of training the unemployed in modern professions and securing high-paying jobs both domestically and abroad was also underscored. It was highlighted that, given its economic capabilities and relatively small population, Navoi region has the potential to become a region free from unemployment.