The poverty rate in the Samarkand region has decreased from 7.5% to 6.4% since the beginning of the year, as Uzbekistan continues to expand economic opportunities and implement regional development reforms.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on July 30 about the effectiveness of these reforms and the launch of new projects aimed at sustaining this progress. Authorities have set ambitious targets — employing 150,000 people and lifting 90,000 residents out of poverty by year-end.
Samarkand, the most populous region in Uzbekistan, is experiencing rapid urban and economic growth, which is driving up demand for housing, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and jobs. Over the past eight years, the region has seen the construction of 1,132 multi-storey apartment buildings, providing improved living conditions for 56,000 families.
Educational access has improved significantly. Preschool enrollment rose from 21% to 73%, while higher education coverage increased from 10% to 45%. Meanwhile, the region’s economy is expanding across key sectors including textiles, metallurgy, electrical engineering, building materials, and tourism — fostering higher incomes and growing public confidence in the future.
Industrial output has grown 1.7 times over eight years, reaching more than UZS 45 trillion ($3.6bn). However, development remains concentrated in the city of Samarkand and the districts of Jamboy, Samarkand, and Urgut, which together account for 60% of output. In contrast, districts such as Qoshrabot (Koshrabad), Payaryk, and Nurobod lag behind.
To close these gaps, a regional Reforms Headquarters has been established to coordinate new investment projects. These include:
- A 115-hectare special industrial zone in Nurobod, where $472mn worth of projects will create 1,200 jobs.
- A $40mn granite mining and processing venture in Qoshrabot, backed by Chinese investment.
- A potato seed brand and in vitro laboratory in Bulungur, alongside plans for a $100mn biopharmaceutical facility.
In total, 14 new projects worth $1.2bn have been developed. These initiatives are expected to generate 12,000 jobs and increase annual exports by $82mn.
President Mirziyoyev endorsed the proposals and called for their accelerated implementation, stressing the need to ensure balanced development and boost investment appeal in every district and city across the region.
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