Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 7 September 2020, the Government Commission for the Development of Export and Investment under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and as part of the heads of ministries, departments, industry associations, commercial banks and local authorities summed up the results of the work on the inventory of industrial enterprises and investment projects and the development of measures to increase the economic potential of Navoi region.

During the field work of the Commission members in the region from 2 to 7 September, the activities of 3,083 industrial enterprises were studied, as a result of which it was revealed that 460 enterprises have not been commissioned at present, have ceased or temporarily suspended their activities, reduced production volumes or tax revenues in budget. Targeted work with entrepreneurs and initiators of investment projects made it possible to identify a number of problems associated with the allocation of land plots, credit resources for replenishment of working capital and the purchase of technological equipment, lack of connection to utilities, difficulties in obtaining the necessary permits and licenses, international certificates, lack of foreign customers , the presence of receivables, the return of previously paid amounts of value added tax and other factors.

Responsible heads of sectoral departments and associations, commercial banks and local authorities took prompt measures to provide practical assistance in the resumption of the activities of these industrial enterprises.

The regional investment program was revised, which includes 699 industrial projects worth 10.6 trillion soums: each project was assessed in accordance with the criteria of production capacity, export potential, profitability, payback period, as well as social and economic effect.

Much work has been done towards the development of cooperation ties between industrial enterprises: based on the results of studying the raw material potential and available production capacities in the regions and cities of the region, 34 investment projects were formed to create research and production clusters in 21 industrial sectors. In Karmana, Navbakhor and Khatyrchi districts, 5 textile and knitwear clusters will be created, in the cities of Navoi and Zarafshan, as well as in the Nurata, Kyzyltepa and Karmaninsky regions - 9 clusters in the production of building materials. At the same time, special attention was paid to ensuring that the quality of manufactured goods meets international standards, for which the Uzstandard Agency will create a number of testing laboratories and organize training courses for quality control specialists who will work on the clusters being created.

Based on the analysis of the import of Navoi region, in addition to the regional localization program, 34 new projects are planned for implementation, focused on import substitution of goods and products most in demand in the domestic market. Among them are chemicals, polymeric materials, industrial machine tools and instruments, rubber products, components for special equipment, electrical equipment and other products. Taking into account new projects in total by the end of 2021, the implementation of all 39 projects in accordance with the localization program will increase industrial output by 396.1 billion soums and create about 1200 new jobs.

Measures have been developed to improve the efficiency of the Navoi free economic zone, on the territory of which, as of the current moment, 42 projects worth US$206.7 million have been implemented, due to which 2.5 thousand new jobs were created. In 2020-2021. on the territory of this zone, it is planned to implement 53 projects worth US$487.4 million with the creation of about 5 thousand new jobs.

In addition, in 3 small industrial zones of the region, by the end of 2020, it is planned to implement 27 investment projects with a total value of 296 billion soums, due to which 1.4 thousand new jobs will be created.

To ensure the investment attractiveness of small industrial zones and create the necessary conditions for the stable operation of existing and newly created industrial enterprises, a number of measures will be implemented by the end of this year to strengthen and develop engineering infrastructure and communications.

As a result of the adoption of practical measures developed during the visit of the Government Commission to Navoi region, additional reserves were identified to increase the volume of industrial production in the region. At the same time, despite the factor of the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy, the growth of the region’s industry by the end of this year will amount to 106%, and the volume of exports will reach US$145.4 million. Due to the restoration of the activities of industrial enterprises in the region, an additional 7.5 thousand jobs will be created, and as a result of the implementation of investment projects, it is planned to create another 15.7 thousand jobs. Industrial enterprises of the region will provide the volume of receipts to the state budget in the amount of 961.8 billion soums, which will amount to 111.1% of the forecast.

The General Prosecutor’s Office will regularly monitor the quality and timely implementation of the developed practical measures. On a monthly basis, the implementation progress will be considered at separate meetings of the Government Commission.