03.08.2021

On August 3, a videoconference on the analysis of economic results for the first half of the year and measures to ensure the sustainable economic growth in the regions and industries by the end of this year was held under the chairmanship of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It was noted that in the first half of the year, the GDP of the country increased by 6,2%. This was mainly due to the growth of industry by 8,5%, investments by 5,9% and services by 8%. The inflation rate was 10,9%.

During this period, the industrial products in the amount of 200 trillion Uzbek soums were manufactured. The rapid growth was observed in the mining and metallurgical, textile and electric power industries, in the Kashkadarya, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Namangan regions and in Tashkent.

This was achieved primarily due to the balanced activity of the economy and the improvement of the situation in foreign markets. The government resources are also an important factor in supporting the economic growth.

At the meeting, the President has emphasized that despite the allocation of the necessary financial resources for the development of regions and industries, the expected results have not yet been achieved on the ground.

The industrial production increased by 41% in Syrdarya Region, 33% in Khorezm, 24% in Namangan and Surkhandarya. However, in the Ferghana and Tashkent regions, which have great potential, the growth accordingly made up 1,2 and 4,6%.

On the outcomes of the first half of this year, 110 industrial enterprises in the regions produced goods 2.2 trillion Uzbek soums less than last year.

The efficiency of investment projects also was considered. In particular, in the first half of the year, 5,246 projects were implemented within the framework of regional investment programs. However, their activities had almost no effect on the growth of industry, the deputy khokims (governors) responsible for this did not work in close cooperation with the enterprises.

During the period under consideration, 53 thousand new business entities were created in the country, which is 14% more than in the previous year.

The measures to ensure the economic growth for the period until the end of 9 months and 2021 in general were discussed at the meeting.

An important factor in achieving this goal is the manufacturing of industrial products amounting to 86 trillion Uzbek soums at large enterprises and 142 trillion Uzbek soums in the regions in the second half of the year.

For example, by the end of the year, the textile industry can manufacture products in amount of more than 15 trillion Uzbek soums and export products amounting to $1.7 billion. Alternatively, in the electrical industry, exports can be brought to $348 million, and in the leather industry up to $251 million.

The need to develop industries that are «drivers» in the regions, to expand the production at small and medium-sized enterprises was indicated.

The Deputy Prime Ministers were instructed to study in detail the launched projects on site and help them reach the full production capacity.

Over the past five years, more than 30 decrees and resolutions of the President on comprehensive support and development of agriculture have been adopted.

Additional land areas have been put into circulation, subsidies have been allocated. The cluster system has been introduced in all sectors of agriculture only this year, more than 6 trillion Uzbek soums of loans were directed to clusters.

However, the performance in this area is falling short of expectations, there are many unexploited opportunities.

In particular, the volume of agricultural production in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Khorezm and Tashkent regions remained at the level of last year. The vegetable production has declined.

The yield index remains unchanged, and for some types of products its decrease is observed. An unsatisfactory level of work in the fields of animal husbandry and poultry farming was highlighted.

The President has stressed that the need of population for food is growing, it is necessary to increase the production in order to meet it.

The responsible persons were instructed to ensure an increase in production and processing of agricultural products in the second quarter.

Particular attention at the meeting was given to the analysis of the service sector.

As is well known, on May 11 this year, the President adopted a resolution «On measures to accelerate the development of the service sector», which contributed to the implementation of projects to expand the range and improve the quality of services in the regions.

«The state has created opportunities. Our people are active and hardworking. Now it is necessary to radically change the service sector. This is the cheapest way to create new jobs. The more services there are in rural areas, the higher the quality», - Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

For the development of the sphere at the first stage, 1 trillion 575 billion Uzbek soums were allocated to 7 commercial banks. Thanks to this, 2.4 thousand projects have been launched in the regions.

As a result, compared to the first half of 2020, the volume of services increased by more than 18%. The high growth was indicated in the Syrdarya, Andijan, Bukhara, Khorezm, Surkhandarya, Fergana regions and in Tashkent.

The need to continue this work and the possibility of creating 415 thousand new jobs by the end of the year was noted at the meeting. The promising measures in this direction are the allocation of empty buildings and land plots to entrepreneurs, and support for self-employment.

The Ministry of Transport was instructed to create new routes of transport services and cover 1,113 makhallas (the local residential community areas) with public transport services.

The Prime Minister and the deputies, heads of economic sectors and regional khokims (governors) presented reports on the issues discussed at the meeting.

The task was set to develop and ensure the implementation of specific plans for each industry and region by the end of the year.