13.02.2026

On February 13, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting to outline key priorities for sustaining high economic growth across sectors and regions.

At the beginning of the meeting, last year's macroeconomic indicators were reviewed. Our country's Gross Domestic Product grew by 7.7 percent and exceeded 147 billion dollars. More than half of the economic growth was accounted for by the services sector. In agriculture, the average income per hectare increased from 4,500 to 5,000 dollars, while labor productivity grew by 4.7 percent.

As a result of the introduction of advanced energy-efficient technologies and the expansion of high value-added projects, the energy cost required to generate one dollar of added value declined by 15 percent over the year.

Touching upon the indicators set for 2026, the President of our country emphasized that the plan to increase the Gross Domestic Product to 167 billion dollars, with an expected economic growth rate of 6.6 percent, is based on a conservative forecast formed considering the current geopolitical situation and external economic volatility.

It was also noted that there are all the necessary conditions to achieve even higher economic growth if every minister, governor, and industry leader introduces new management methods in their respective spheres, ensures the efficient use of resources, opens new export destinations beyond traditional markets, attracts specialists in digitalization and artificial intelligence to implement innovations, and establishes startup clubs with the active participation of youth.

The meeting also comprehensively discussed issues of increasing the efficiency of strategic enterprises and reducing costs.

It was noted that according to an analysis by Franklin Templeton, which manages the National Investment Fund, there is significant untapped potential in strengthening corporate culture, optimizing logistics, digitalization, and increasing energy efficiency. The heads of nineteen strategic enterprises were instructed to take decisive measures in procurement, logistics, digitalization, and energy efficiency and to ensure a reduction in production costs by 10-15 percent.

“Savings must be achieved not by cutting output, but by lowering unit production costs” the President noted.

Furthermore, the importance of including strategic enterprises in the Unified Treasury information system and curning inefficient expenditure by classifying purchases based on risk analysis was emphasized.

Shortcomings in the development of regional industry were sharply criticized. Although the republic's industry has grown by 21 percent over three years, in a number of districts the growth did not even reach 10 percent, and in some regions, the increase in credit resources and investments is not having a proportional impact on the development of the industrial sector.

Deputy regional khokims have been instructed to work directly on-site in 12 districts for one month to restore operations at enterprises with declining output and ensure industrial growth in these areas.

A decision was made to approve regional and provincial plans to ensure the republic's industrial growth at a level of at least 8.5 percent, and to evaluate the performance of leaders based on the identified problems and their solutions at the end of the first quarter.

It was noted that the country has four large enterprises with an annual production capacity of 650,000 vehicles. This year, it is necessary to start the production of another 763 parts in cooperation with more than 300 local enterprises and increase vehicle output to 510,000. To stimulate demand among the population, instructions were given to take measures to reduce interest rates and increase the volume of car loans.

New managerial approaches for attracting investment and effectively implementing projects were defined.

It was emphasized that this year, it is planned to attract 50 billion dollars in foreign investment, and new projects must primarily facilitate the production of export-oriented products with high added value, ensure the efficient use of resources, and create high-income jobs.

Ministers and khokims were instructed to conduct a comprehensive analysis with an assessment of the market, export potential, added value, and jobs created for each project to be included in the investment program for 2026.

Henceforth, strict oversight of investment projects will extend not only to their launch but also to their full-scale operation, the creation of high added value, and the entry of their products into foreign markets. To this end, a “Single National Project Management” platform will be established to monitor each project included in the program for three years following its launch.

Pointing out that fifty-five major projects were postponed last year due to various organizational issues, it was decided to place 377 strategic projects worth 165 billion dollars under special control this year.

It was noted that agreements worth 135 billion dollars were reached during foreign visits. This year alone, investment agreements worth 9 billion dollars with Türkiye and 1.428 billion dollars with Pakistan have been signed.

The task was set to increase construction volumes by expanding investment. Responsible officials were instructed to increase the volume of construction to 400 trillion soums this year, ensuring a growth rate of at least 17 percent in the industry. It was noted that the 40 trillion soums allocated from the budget for social and industrial infrastructure are contributing to the formation of a large sales market for construction, metallurgical, and electrical engineering enterprises, as well as organizations producing building materials.

At the same time, the need to strengthen oversight of regional “Single Customer Service” engineering companies was emphasized, alongside the pilot involvement of the private sector in customer services in Karakalpakstan, Samarkand, and Fergana.

Specific instructions were also issued on increasing energy efficiency.

Given the high level of annual energy consumption in small and medium-sized enterprises, it was decided to introduce a new energy efficiency system and develop a three-year program for this category of enterprises. The importance of taking measures in 2026 to save 100 million cubic meters of gas and 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in small and medium-sized enterprises was noted.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that the 917,000 streetlights in the republic consume 330 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, with some of them remaining on even during the day. Instructions were given to begin installing small solar panels, batteries,and sensors on streetlight poles that automatically turn the lights on and off depending on the level of light.

Particular attention was also paid to increasing the share of domestic producers in public procurement.

As noted, although the share of locally produced goods in public procurement totaling 300 trillion soums has reached 68 percent, this figure does not even exceed 40 percent within the systems of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex and the joint-stock companies Uztransgaz, National Electric Grids, Uzbekistan Airports, and Uzbekistan Airways. Entrepreneurs also point to the large number of bureaucratic procedures involved in public procurement, expert review, and certification processes, while some managers continue to adhere to the outdated view that foreign products are of better quality.

Henceforth, ministers, industry leaders, and khokims will be personally responsible for increasing the share of local products at all stages of projects – from negotiations and tenders to construction and raw material supplies.

Particular attention at the meeting was devoted to ensuring economic growth through external markets.

The President emphasized that high economic growth cannot be achieved solely through domestic demand. It was noted that the primary task for ministers, industry leaders, and khokims should be to promote new products in new markets.

It was pointed out with specific examples that although exports grew by 22 percent last year, reaching 24 billion dollars, many leaders have still not abandoned outdated work methods in this area. From now on, export requirements will concern not only volume but also the presence of new products and new markets.

Tasks were also set to ensure price stability in the domestic market, early identification of inflationary factors, and finding practical solutions.

It was emphasized that annual inflation stood at 7.2 percent in January, with 45 percent of inflation attributed to food products, of which 13 percent was due to rising meat prices.

The Center for the Study of Industrial Markets and Labor Productivity in Production under the Ministry of Economy and Finance was tasked with proactively identifying internal and external inflation risks, analyzing district and city markets weekly, forecasting demand, and developing a quarterly balance of basic food products.

It was noted that with the start of the holy month of Ramadan next week, ensuring price stability in the domestic market becomes particularly important, instructions were given to organize fairs with discounted food products at dehkan markets and in large shopping complexes.

Tasks for ensuring price stability and increasing public income were also outlined in the agricultural sector.

It was noted that, in order to reduce dependence on meat imports, the fodder base must be strengthened. Referring to the example of bringing 5,000 hectares of land into cultivation and launching corn planting in the Mubarek district, instructions were given to undertake similar work on an additional 60,000 hectares this year. This will make it possible to create a guaranteed fodder base for a further 350,000 head of livestock.

Noting the import of 772,000 tons of potatoes last year, the need to achieve a potato harvest of 4.5 million tons this year was pointed out.

Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week, instructions were given to open food fairs with reduced prices at dehkan markets and in large shopping complexes.

Reports from heads of industries and regions were heard at the meeting.