In June of this year, as part of the project 'Youth and Women as Ambassadors of Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan,' implemented with financial support from the European Union, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the nationwide movement 'Yuksalish,' the Public Association 'DMO Karakalpakstan' held three-day training seminars in the cities of Nukus, Muynak, and the Khujayli districts.
Thirty-three young men and women participated in these events, gaining knowledge and practical skills in sustainable tourism, local initiative development, social entrepreneurship, project preparation, and tourist product creation. An important part of the training program was turning participants' ideas into practical projects. Participants presented both individual and team projects aimed at promoting the tourism sector.
All submitted projects were evaluated by independent experts, mentors, and the team of the Public Association 'DMO Karakalpakstan' based on established criteria. Projects that scored the highest were recognized as winners, and each of them is provided with support of 2.5 million soums for the purchase of equipment and furnishings.
Based on the competition results, the commission determined the following mini-subsidies:
For Muynak district: The projects 'Qirdagi kema,' aimed at creating a guesthouse in a natural area in national style to demonstrate hospitality and national values to local and foreign tourists, and 'Muynak travel media,' targeting the wide promotion of the region's tourism potential using modern media and popularizing it on the international stage, were selected.
For Khujayli district: The innovative initiatives recognized were the project 'Smart Karakalpakstan Tourism Hub,' aimed at expanding the tourism opportunities of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khujayli district through digital technologies and increasing tourist flow, and the project 'Bir hotira - ming hikoya ustaxonasi,' dedicated to cultural tourism, telling stories about the national culture, crafts of Karakalpakstan, and the tragedy of the Aral Sea.
For the city of Nukus: The projects 'Aralaroma soap,' aimed at expanding the range of tourist souvenirs by producing natural soap from local plants and ecological products, and 'Arbashi bread,' whose goal is to create a new brand of souvenirs for tourists through modern, ecological, and nationally stylized packaging of traditional Karakalpak bread, were selected.
Furthermore, the project 'Shege qishlogidagi uy mehmonxonasi' by participant Aziza Atamuratova from the Muynak district was highly praised by experts. The Public Association 'DMO Karakalpakstan' decided to provide additional support for this initiative from its own funds, considering its prospects and the author's initiative.
This contest became an important initiative contributing to turning the ideas of youth and young women into practical projects, as well as developing local tourism and creating new tourist products and services.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on adopting additional measures to support the production of finished goods in the leather and footwear industry and to increase export potential, a Directorate for Managing the Leather and Footwear Industrial Zone will be established in the form of a limited liability company.
Land plots belonging to the leather and footwear industrial zones located in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region and the Sharikon district of Andijan region will be transferred to the Directorate under lease terms, and it will be tasked with managing these territories.
The sole founder of the Directorate is the Restoration and Development Fund, and the Directorate is managed based on a power of attorney from the Agency for Light Industry Development.
Funds amounting to 360 billion UZS will be allocated from the republican budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026–2027 to build modern treatment facilities for leather and footwear industrial zones in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region and enterprises for processing leather and wool in the Syrdarya district of the Syrdarya region.
Within two months, a target list for the modernization and construction of treatment facilities at leather processing enterprises in accordance with international standards will be formed, and proposals for financing these projects within the framework of the Republic of Uzbekistan's Program for the Development of Social and Production Infrastructure for 2026–2028 will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
To finance investment projects in the leather and footwear sector, participation in projects, and replenish working capital, $33 million USD has been allocated, according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PQ-181 of May 20, 2024, on measures to promote the leather, silk, and carpet sectors. These funds are distributed as follows:
a) $10 million USD is directed to the Restoration and Development Fund to provide loans to enterprises through commercial banks during 2026–2027, with the condition that repayment to the Fund occurs by December 31, 2035. Loans are provided for investment projects for a term of 10 years, including a three-year grace period, at an annual rate of 5% (the margin of the Restoration and Development Fund is 3.5%, the bank's margin is 1.2%, and the Agency's expenses are 0.3%); as well as for replenishing working capital for up to 36 months at an annual rate of 3.5% (the margin of the Restoration and Development Fund is 2.5%, the bank's margin is 1.2%, and the Agency's expenses are 0.3%).
b) $23 million USD is directed to the Directorate's target fund for the construction of production buildings and structures upon request from entrepreneurs in the wool processing and leather and footwear manufacturing sectors, which will be sold to entrepreneurs in stages over 7 years according to a schedule agreed upon with the Directorate.
From July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2029, the Directorate and the Directorate for Managing the Small Industrial Zone in the Oltingol district of Andijan region are exempt from paying profit tax, property tax, land tax, and water resource usage fees.
The Agency, together with the Uzbekistan-Korean Educational and Practical Textile Technopark, will regularly organize preparatory courses such as 'School of Designers-Pattern Makers', 'School of Marketers', and 'School of Technologists' for specialists, workers, masters, and artisans in the sector starting from October 1, 2026.
80 billion UZS will be allocated for 2026–2027 to provide external engineering and communication infrastructure (roads, water, electricity, and gas pipelines) to the leather and footwear industrial zones in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region, the Sharikon district of Andijan region, and enterprises for processing wool and leather in the Syrdarya district of the Syrdarya region.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that a strike was carried out on a US military facility located in the Al-Tanf area of Syria on Saturday.
According to state media of the Islamic Republic, this attack was conducted as an act of retaliation for the deaths of local soldiers in Aranshahr. Official confirmation of this information is currently unavailable.
Reuters stated that it could not conduct an independent verification of the situation. US military forces and the Syrian government also made no comments on the matter. It was previously known that the American army had completely left the base in Al-Tanf, which was located at a strategic point on the border of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in February of this year.
Currently, the Syrian leadership seeks to avoid interference in the regional conflict affecting neighboring states. It is known that Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon is engaged in combat operations against the Israeli army, while armed groups linked to Iran continuously strike US bases in Iraq with drones and missiles.
President Ahmad al-Sharrah emphasized at an event by the Chatham House analytical center in London in March that the country will remain aloof from any turmoil if neither side initiates direct attacks on Syrian territory.
Iranian military forces announced full control of the Strait of Hormuz by the Tehran command, which is of strategic importance. State media warns that if strikes from the US continue, no oil or gas exports will be permitted through this waterway.
In recent years, a number of positive measures have been implemented to guarantee the property rights of business entities and prevent undue interference. In this regard, the Business Ombudsman is taking appropriate measures to protect the legitimate interests of entrepreneurs. Every appeal from an entrepreneur serves as an important basis for deeply analyzing the real situation, identifying systemic issues in the field in advance, and developing the most appropriate solutions for them.
Specifically, the Business Ombudsman received an appeal from an entrepreneur who carried out construction and repair works at educational institution facilities located in Balingchi district and Andijan city. The entrepreneur was dissatisfied because the payment for the completed work had not been fully made.
It was determined that contracts worth a total of 7.8 billion soums were concluded between the company 'Single Customer Service' under the Andijan regional government and the community. However, the debt amounting to 323 million soums for the completed construction and repair works was not fulfilled despite several appeals and demands from the entrepreneur.
As a result of the investigation by the Business Ombudsman, a lawsuit was filed with the Andijan District Economic Court to recover this debt in order to protect the interests of the entrepreneur. Ultimately, the court decision stipulated the recovery of 323 million soums in debt for the benefit of the entrepreneur.
