23.12.2024

On December 23, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the priority tasks for 2025 to utilize additional opportunities, increase investments and increase employment in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

This year has been very fruitful for Karakalpakstan. New industrial enterprises, tourist facilities, energy facilities, as well as IT-park were launched in the region. A new road and railway bridge with a length of 423 meters was opened, which connected Karakalpakstan with Khorezm. As a result, the distance for cargo and passenger transportation was reduced by 180 kilometers.

At the cost of $323 million, a 240-kilometer part of the “Kungrad-Beyneu” highway was built and put into operation. This creates prerequisites for increasing transit and other services by $200 million a year.

Work will soon begin on electrification of the 196-kilometer section of the “Miskin-Nukus” railroad.

The region has more than 50 privileges and preferences in the field of industry, entrepreneurship and infrastructure. In particular, only in Karakalpakstan investors can receive land plots for projects directly.

This year, an open dialogue between the President of Uzbekistan and entrepreneurs took place in Nukus, demonstrating the potential of the region. Foreign investors and specialists note the emergence here of wide opportunities for making profits.

Thus, a comprehensive analysis of the economic potential was conducted, which revealed opportunities in the agro-industrial complex, tourism and services worth $2.5 billion.

Currently, an average of 28 centners of cotton per hectare is harvested from 87 thousand hectares, with low profitability in 10 districts. Experts suggest reducing the area under low-productive cotton, replacing it with fodder crops and sesame. According to calculations, the cultivation of fodder crops could generate additional profit of 6.5 trillion soums from meat and milk production, while sesame exports could be increased by $500 million. At the same time, a significant amount of water will be saved.

In addition, Muynak alone has the potential for at least $1 billion worth of tourism projects. By developing integrated tourist facilities, it is possible to receive 1 million tourists annually and provide jobs for 5 thousand local residents.

In the field of ethno- and ecotourism, not all opportunities have been implemented yet. There are more than 200 cultural heritage sites such as Chilpik, Ayazkala and Tuprakkala, as well as more than 10 types of folk games. All this has the potential to attract 3 million tourists and keep them in the region for days.

It was noted that the leaders of the republic, which has such potential, as well as khokims of 17 districts should increase personal responsibility. It is necessary to demonstrate to entrepreneurs the opportunities of the region, offer them investment projects and provide support. Such approach will create new jobs, increase added value and exports, and thereby increase the income of the population.

At the meeting, Chairman of Jokargy Kenges of the Republic of Karakalpakstan presented plans to utilize available resources, increase investment and create jobs. 

The Head of State drew attention to the structure of the announced projects. In particular, out of $3.1 billion of investments planned for the next year, only $500 million will be allocated to regional projects.

In this regard, the need to use all opportunities in the regions and increase this share was emphasized. For this purpose, additional regional projects worth $1 billion will be formed, which will enable the launch of 120 new enterprises and increase exports to $500 million.

In addition, 85 large enterprises will be brought to full capacity. By organizing new production, trade and service sites, 150 thousand people will be employed, resulting in reducing the unemployment rate to 5.4 percent. New sources of income will be opened for 20 thousand low-income families, reducing the poverty rate by 7.6 percent.

A 1 GW wind power plant is currently under construction in Karakalpakstan. Projects have been launched to build similar plants with a total capacity of 9.3 GW, which will generate 33 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The region also has significant natural gas reserves. In this regard, the expediency of locating large-scale energy-intensive enterprises of metallurgical, chemical and construction industries in Karakalpakstan was underlined.

It is also necessary to increase efficiency in agriculture. It is planned to create industrial orchards and vineyards with a total area of 3 thousand hectares on irrigated lands. It is envisaged to grow sesame on 31 thousand hectares and mungbean on 22 thousand hectares with a focus on exports. Besides, within three years a project on cultivation of licorice on 30 thousand hectares will be implemented.

All these measures reflect only a part of Karakalpakstan's potential, and their effective implementation will ensure dynamic development of the region. 

Therefore, a project office will be established in the republic, focused on developing three main areas - agriculture, industry and tourism. This structure will analyze the “growth points” of each district, provide recommendations on the choice of agricultural crops and increasing land use profitability. It will prepare and provide district khokims with projects on processing raw materials and producing finished products, develop proposals on opening new tourist destinations and organizing appropriate infrastructure there.

Responsible persons have been instructed to ensure special control over the progress of investment projects, implementation of employment and export plans. They have been instructed to elaborate a development strategy for each district with the involvement of international consulting companies.