Karakalpakstan’s capabilities were analyzed and further tasks were defined

On August 19, a meeting on the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan was held in the Kegeyli district, the press service of the head of our state reports.

In Karakalpakstan, as in all regions, measures are being taken to increase investment, jobs and exports in driver areas. Over the past period, 150 projects have been launched in Karakalpakstan with the attraction of 1.4 billion dollars of foreign direct investment. The number of entrepreneurs has increased from 12 thousand to 25 thousand, commercial areas – by 1.5 million square meters, 212 thousand people are provided with permanent work.

As a result of a favorable environment for business and investment, entrepreneurship is developing. For example, 13 thousand entrepreneurs who started their activities with a micro project, moved to small business, another 351 – to medium business. The number of enterprises with an annual turnover of over 100 billion soums has reached 43.

Changes have occurred in the social infrastructure. In particular, preschool education coverage increased from 28 to 84 percent. 21 new schools were built, and another 243 were completely renovated.

A 17-story IT park with 700 seats was built for the first time. About 40 thousand young people from Karakalpakstan were trained in two years within the framework of the ‘‘One Million Programmers’’ project.

74 family medical centers, 81 polyclinics, and 92 mahalla medical centers were put into operation in the districts and cities. Combined trauma and acute vascular disease centers were created in the Turtkul, Kungrad, and Chimbay districts.

Until recently, more than 100 thousand people faced difficulties due to the lack of ownership of their homes. This problem has been solved, and the ownership rights of 27 thousand citizens to housing have been recognized.

A Mahalla Support Fund has been created in Karakalpakstan, with 500 million soums allocated for each of the 452 mahallas. As a result, 316 kilometers of internal roads were repaired, 151 kilometers of power grids were updated, 55 kilometers of gas and 112 kilometers of water supply networks were laid.

A 240-kilometer highway along the ‘‘Bukhara-Nukus-Beineu’’ route will be put into operation in the coming days using $274 million raised from the Asian Development Bank.

A large-scale program to improve the climate conditions in the Aral Sea region has been launched. Over the past seven years, 1.9 million hectares of green space have been created on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea. The International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea region has been created to improve the ecosystem, create new varieties and seeds in a saline, waterless environment.

A program for adapting agriculture to climate change has recently been approved. According to it, $80 million will be allocated to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Aral Sea region. These funds will be used to restore 100 thousand hectares of pastures, grow varieties that correspond to soil and climate conditions, strengthen the forage base for livestock and train personnel.

At the same time, there are many untapped opportunities. Some investment projects are being implemented slowly. Since the beginning of the year, 19 thousand enterprises in Karakalpakstan have taken advantage of tax breaks worth 350 billion soums. As a result, entrepreneurs came out of the shadows and expanded their activities, which allowed them to employ 4 thousand people. However, 6 thousand enterprises that received benefits have lost jobs.

In fact, no other region has such opportunities and conditions as those created for business in Karakalpakstan. If these opportunities were transformed into projects and jobs, the figures would be 5-10 times higher.

For this reason, the khokims of Karauzyak and Takhiatash were dismissed at the end of the first half of the year. Disciplinary sanctions were applied to the khokims of the Amu Darya, Beruni, Bozatau, Kegeyli, Kungrad, Kanlykul, Muynak, Takhtakupyr, Turtkul, Khodjeyli and Chimbay districts.

The meeting noted the enormous opportunities in the republic.

For example, 1.3 million tourists have arrived in Karakalpakstan since the beginning of the year. But there are few places in hotels. If land is provided, entrepreneurs expressed a desire to build a modern hotel and a congress hall.

On 20 hectares around Achchik-Kul, located in the city of Nukus, it is possible to organize housing, modern hotels and recreation areas. Along the Dustlik and Kegeyli, Tasli Zhap and Shirin Zhap canals in Khodjeyli, shopping and entertainment facilities can be organized. There is also great potential for attracting tourists in Amu Darya, Turtkul, Beruni.

Along the ‘‘Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beynau’’ road, 300 retail and service facilities can be located on an area of ​​140 hectares. If a modern market is built in Ellikkale, the volume of trade and services will increase.

Last year, with the allocation of 22 hectares of the Beruni district, the territory of the ‘‘Urgut’’ free economic zone was expanded. But so far there has not been a single project here. Although this territory has all the infrastructure, and a railway passes through. Raw materials are also located nearby.

If a simplified land allocation system in Karakalpakstan is introduced for the territory of the economic zone, it will be possible to place projects worth 320 million dollars here.

Investors are ready to invest $10 million to launch a cluster specializing in sheep breeding on 500 hectares in the ‘‘Koybak’’ mahalla in Karauzyak. This cluster contains 10 thousand heads of sheep and produces 100 tons of meat.

The head of state gave instructions to responsible persons to use these opportunities and develop the economy.

103 large projects worth $1.9 billion have been formed in Karakalpakstan. During the year, 14 projects will be launched in the industries for a total of $275 million. In total, more than 120 promising projects worth $9.5 billion have been prepared.

Responsible persons have been instructed to prepare the “Do Business in Karakalpakstan” program together with entrepreneurs for each district. This program will become a new source for the development of industry, agriculture and services in Karakalpakstan, at least $10 billion in investments and the creation of 500 thousand jobs.

In a word, big goals have been set so that the Karakalpak people’s tomorrow is better than today. It was emphasized that for this, everyone must work together and selflessly.

This year, a resolution was adopted to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the great poet of the Turkic peoples, Ajiniyaz. The head of our state recalled that the poet called the selfless people who served the people “his majesty man” and called on everyone to work in the same way.

– As I have already said, the Uzbeks and Karakalpaks have one history and destiny. I believe that our bright, happy future will definitely be one. I wish you, young people and entrepreneurs, new successes on this path, – the President said.

The leaders of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and industries, khokims of cities and districts presented reports on the issues discussed.