The Fergana region aims to attract $3.7bn in investments in 2025, as outlined during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The session focused on strategies to boost socio-economic development, create jobs, and enhance the investment and business environment in the region.
Over the past seven years, Fergana has achieved significant growth, with industrial enterprises tripling to 13,000, creating 116,000 jobs through various initiatives. The president’s visit to the region in July this year provided a fresh impetus, resulting in $1.5bn in foreign investments and $910mn in export revenues within the first 10 months.
The Kokand Free Economic Zone (FEZ) has been expanded by 210 hectares, enabling the implementation of 185 projects worth $1bn and creating 12,000 jobs. Plans to establish a 71-hectare technology park in Kokand will facilitate the operations of 5,000 business enterprises with a combined value of $900mn in its initial phase.
Fergana has attracted substantial international interest, including agreements worth $1bn with Chinese investors and $240mn with South Korean businesses. Industrial zones spanning 1,210 hectares will be developed across districts and cities to accommodate these projects, creating jobs for 30,000 individuals, including families in need.
In the Beshariq district, a trade-logistics center is under construction and will operate as a free trade zone similar to Termiz. The facility will lease shops to entrepreneurs, boost regional exports by $50mn, and generate 2,000 jobs. A similar complex is planned for Kuvasoi city.
Fergana's agricultural sector offers substantial opportunities for growth, with 91,000 hectares of underutilized land available for efficient use. Key initiatives include:
- Raspberry Farming: Plans to expand production and add value through storage, processing, and packaging in Fergana district.
- Saffron Cultivation: Entrepreneurs aim to lease forest land in Sokh for saffron production on 850 hectares.
- Irrigation Projects: A 9-kilometer pipeline and upgraded pumping stations in Altyarik could irrigate 1,400 hectares, yielding 55,000 tons of fruit annually for export.
In addition to attracting $3.7bn in investments, the region aims to increase exports to $1.5bn, provide employment to 500,000 people, and lift 22,000 families out of poverty in 2025.
President Mirziyoyev approved the proposals and emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to support exporters, create jobs, and reduce unemployment. He instructed officials to prepare a detailed action plan to achieve these targets and hold regional leaders accountable for implementation.
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