Park and water park worth $45 million planned for construction in Novy Andzhan

The application deadline for the AgriTech Gov Challenge is in three days. Startups and technology teams can submit their applications until July 30, 2026, to gain the opportunity to launch a pilot project in collaboration with one of Uzbekistan's major agro-clusters.

Goals of the Initiative

The main goal of this initiative is to create a unified digital ecosystem for the agricultural sector. This ecosystem should integrate farmer training, agricultural production management, logistics, trade, export, and financial services.

Competition Tracks

Seven competition tracks have been published on the StartupBase platform. These include digital education for farmers, agri-logistics management, a bilateral agricultural trade platform, ERP systems for farms, financial technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) and smart farming solutions, as well as other AgriTech developments.

Track Details

The Agri EdTech track covers digital educational platforms that include learning materials, testing, digital certificates, and recommendations for increasing crop yield and product quality. The Agri Logistics track offers solutions for cargo and carrier selection, flight management, GPS monitoring, temperature control, calculation of transport costs, and digital documentation keeping.

The Agri Marketplace track involves creating a B2B platform that connects buyers and sellers of agricultural products, including export operations. The Smart Farm Management track focuses on the digital management of agricultural enterprises, including land, crop, and employee accounting, equipment management, cost control, and financial analysis. AgriFinTech covers solutions for digital lending, scoring, agricultural insurance, factoring, leasing, payments, and subsidy management.

The IoT and Smart Farming track is dedicated to agricultural automation technologies such as humidity and temperature sensors, automated irrigation control, monitoring of equipment and greenhouses, and real-time data collection.

Participants and Requirements

Developers of other technological solutions for the agricultural sector are invited, including specialists in artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, export, quality control, ESG, data analysis, and supply chain management. To participate in the competition, startups must have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or a ready product, initial clients, or pilot implementations. Teams must also demonstrate potential for integration with other digital services and scalability within Uzbekistan's agricultural sector.

Benefits for Winners

Selected projects will have the opportunity to test their products in real-world conditions, gain access to corporate clients, expand their customer base, and establish long-term partnerships with agro-clusters. Applications for the AgriTech Gov Challenge are accepted until July 30, 2026. Application details and participation conditions are available on the StartupBase platform.

As part of measures to reduce expenses in the energy sector, Jordan, which is under pressure due to the Iran war and regional tensions, the Prime Minister of Jordan, Dr. Jaafar Hassan, solemnly opened two new natural gas stations in the port city of Aqaba.

Financial and Economic Benefits of the Project

This project cost the Jordanian government approximately $16 million and is designed to reduce energy costs in the Kingdom's industrial cities by 30–65 percent. The initial capacity of the stations is 30,000 cubic meters per day, with the possibility of expansion up to 90,000 cubic meters.

This step is part of a series of sound financial decisions through which Jordan is demonstrating growth in export indicators and attracting foreign investment.

Infrastructure Development and Future Plans

In September 2025, Jaafar Hassan laid the cornerstone for a gas station in the Southern Industrial Zone; it was planned to be ready in 18 months, but the project was completed eight months ahead of schedule, demonstrating the efficiency of Hassan's government.

During the visit to open the facilities, Jaafar Hassan also initiated the laying of the foundation for an onshore gas block project that will convert liquefied natural gas (LNG) into gaseous form, store it, and transport it via pipelines.

Prospects for Industry

The new project is estimated to cost approximately $127 million and is expected to be completed by mid-2027 with a capacity of up to 700 million cubic feet per day. For now, the two gas stations will provide factories in Aqaba with clean and sustainable energy, allowing producers to increase production, reduce operating costs, and attract additional investment to Jordan.

The construction of a modern four-star hotel complex has started in Yangi-Namanghan, which will feature 310 sleeping places. According to a statement from the press service of the Davlatabad district administration, the total cost of this investment project is 114 billion soums.

Foundation Laying Ceremony

The foundation laying ceremony was attended by the Hokim of Namangan region, Shavkatjon Abdurazzakov, as well as representatives of the local community, local entrepreneurs, and residents of the region.

Characteristics of the New Facility

The project involves creating a hotel designed using international architectural solutions. This facility will include modern guest rooms, a restaurant, conference halls, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and other necessary service infrastructure.

Economic Significance of the Project

It is expected that the new hotel will be able to accommodate both local and foreign guests, thereby contributing to the development of the tourism infrastructure of the Namangan region. Furthermore, the implementation of this project should lead to the creation of new jobs, expansion of the service sector, and an increase in the investment and tourism potential of the region.