Additional opportunities and further tasks for the development of Surkhandarya were discussed

On November 17, a meeting was held in the city of Termez with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss measures for the socio-economic development of the Surkhandarya region, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan reports.

The region is consistently developing. There are many plans and opportunities ahead. In particular, 4 new large industrial projects worth 3 billion 300 million dollars have been formed. Due to them, the regional economy will increase by 6.5 trillion soums, the local budget – by 1.6 trillion soums, exports – by $100 million, and 2 thousand highly profitable jobs will be created.

For example, at the gas chemical complex in Baysun, worth 3 billion dollars, the purification of 5 billion cubic meters of gas and the production of natural gas and sulfur worth 6 trillion soums per year will be established. The region will receive an average of $120 million from exports annually. Geological exploration will be expanded and gas reserves will increase by another 100 billion cubic meters.

– Surkhandarya has enormous economic potential, underground and above-ground wealth, a brave and hardworking population. Currently, not even half of this potential is being used. It is necessary to create conditions and increase employment, investment, exports and income many times over,” the head of state said.

In this regard, guidelines have been set for attracting $1.5 billion in investment to the region, producing products worth 12 trillion soums in industry, exporting goods worth $500 million and reducing imports by $100 million. It was noted that employment of 400 thousand residents should be the main task of regional and district khokims.

It is emphasized that the largest reserve for attracting investment into the region and developing industry is the use of existing deposits.

Responsible persons were given instructions to develop reserves of lead, zinc and gold, white marble in Saryasiya, coal in Baysun and Saryasiya, and potash fertilizers in Sherabad. The task has been set to expand geological research in the mountainous areas of the region.

Thanks to its natural soil and climatic conditions, Surkhandarya region can be a leader in growing early ripening products. However, as noted at the meeting, there are problems with the provision of high-yielding seeds and seedlings, as well as with the purchase of grown products. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture has been instructed to organize in vitro laboratories in 10 regions.

Next year, drying, sorting and packaging equipment, as well as 70 small refrigerators, will be installed along the edges of the fields. Export-oriented crops such as onions, broccoli, rosemary, arugula, thyme, red basil, and mint will be grown on 100 thousand hectares.

It was decided to create 6 storage, drying, sorting centers in Angora, Jarkurgan, Kumkurgan, Altynsai, as well as a logistics hub worth $50 million in the Termez region together with South Korea.

Fine-staple cotton requires up to 15 percent less water and matures earlier. Therefore, it was instructed to expand the area for growing such cotton varieties to 50 thousand hectares, increase its processing to 30 percent, create a joint project on molecular genetics and breeding, and a modern laboratory.

The problem of water shortage was raised at the meeting. 80 percent of the land in the Surkhandarya region is irrigated by pumps, which doubles the cost of water, 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity are wasted.

“It is necessary to instill in people the idea that water is not free, together with local activists, representatives of the older generation, the intelligentsia and the general public, to turn this idea into a rule of everyday life,” the President said.

Responsible persons were instructed to develop a two-year program for concreting 47 canals and repairing 6 canals with the highest level of water losses.

The region’s tourism potential is also high. There are more than 600 cultural heritage and tourism sites located here. Currently, work has begun on organizing an open-air museum at the Dalvarzintepa monument.

In continuation of this work, it is necessary to turn the Baybulak, Teshiktash and Machay caves in Baysun, and the Uzundara monument into museums. Expeditions of foreign scientists will be organized in the Khatak cave and Zarautsay Gorge in Sherabad. Another 10 mahallas will be turned into tourist villages.

The Omonkhona sanatorium will be renovated and expanded, and a new sanatorium will be built. Projects worth $200 million will be implemented in Baysun, Altynsai, Saryasiya and Sherabad for the construction of cable cars, hotels and service facilities.

Particular attention at the meeting was paid to social issues.

The importance of opening herbal bars in every mahalla and pharmacy, developing home exercise programs and a healthy diet menu for the prevention of diseases was emphasized.

Tasks have been set to equip and repair 509 schools, the Mother and Child Center, a children’s cardiac surgery department and 44 family medical centers.

The need to assist such creative groups as “Boysun”, “Shalola”, “Boychechak”, “Bulbuli Guyo” in participating in international festivals, creating a Golden Fund for the creativity of bakhshi, dastans and thermal baths was pointed out.

It was decided to adopt a separate resolution to attract the youth of Surkhandarya to sports.

During the meeting, the opinions and proposals of ministers and khokims, representatives of the intelligentsia and entrepreneurs were heard.