In Syrdarya, plans are underway to attract $2 billion in investments and increase export volume to $500 million.

It has been noted that the lack of initiative from leaders hinders the development of industry, trade, and the service sector. In particular, the share of the service sector in the economy of the Syrdarya region remains the lowest in the country. The poverty level exceeds 11 percent, and the number of unemployed individuals reaches 22 thousand.

During the meeting, proposals were presented to increase investment volumes and improve the business environment in the region, reduce the poverty level, and effectively utilize its transit potential.

Specifically, it is planned to organize industrial zones covering a total area of nearly 900 hectares. This will attract 5 billion dollars in investments and create over 20 thousand jobs. The projects will be located in Syrdarya, Shirin, Bayavut, Khavast, Mirzaabad, Gulistan, Akaltyn, and Sardoba.

Geographically, the region is situated in the central part of Uzbekistan, where the international highways M-39, M-34, A-373, and A-376 intersect, with 311 thousand vehicles passing through daily. Entrepreneurs are ready to open hundreds of trade and service points along these roads.

In total, the creation of 500 thousand square meters of trade and service areas is planned, which will provide employment for 50 thousand people.

Thanks to favorable soil and climatic conditions, the region has high potential for growing cotton, rice, fruits, and vegetables. In this regard, areas for potatoes, onions, raspberries, currants, and cherries will be expanded. Processing enterprises and exporters will be assigned to household plots, field edges, and areas adjacent to canals covering a total of 38 thousand hectares.

Additionally, in eight districts of the region, it is planned to convert 25 thousand hectares of low-yield land for rice cultivation. To support rice-growing enterprises, they will be allowed to export 50 percent of their harvest.

The region has over a thousand houses built more than 50 years ago. As part of the renovation program, modern residential complexes with a total capacity of 15 thousand apartments are planned to be constructed in their place. The positive experience of the city of Margilan and the Dustlik district will be studied.

To ensure the availability of new housing, developers will be granted tax and customs benefits. Furthermore, 100 million dollars will be allocated for the modernization of roads, electrical networks, housing stock, irrigation infrastructure, and the renovation of kindergartens, schools, and other social facilities in the region.

It has been instructed to allocate the necessary funds and complete the work on the uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the city of Gulistan by July 1, 2025. Proposals to expand the territories of the cities of Gulistan and Shirin to accelerate urbanization processes have been approved.

Overall, due to the opportunities considered, it is planned to attract 2 billion dollars in investments this year and increase the export volume to 500 million dollars. It is expected that as a result, more than 16 thousand new jobs will be created, and the poverty level will decrease to 7.4 percent.