The Khorezm Region in Uzbekistan announced the launch of twelve projects with a total value of 176 million US dollars. Additionally, construction has begun on fifteen other projects, with a total declared value of 7.424 billion US dollars. The project launch ceremony took place on August 17 at the Farovon Khiva Hotel in Khiva, attended by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to the presidential press service.
In recent years, the region has implemented a comprehensive development program aimed at diversifying the economy, increasing production capacity, and improving the investment climate. Over nine years, 7.5 billion dollars in investments have been attracted to the Khorezm region, and 9,700 new production facilities have been commissioned. During the same period, small and medium-sized enterprises were provided with over 33 trillion soums in loans.
According to data presented at the ceremony, real household income has doubled during this period. Employment in industry and construction reached 18%, while the service sector accounted for 55%. The poverty rate decreased to 4.4%, and unemployment was halved, standing at 4.5%. Furthermore, 72 mahallas were freed from unemployment and poverty.
Tourism infrastructure has also expanded: over the last nine years, 280 hotels and guesthouses have been built in the region, and the number of hotel rooms has quadrupled. Eleven new tourist attractions have been commissioned, and the number of foreign tourists visiting the region has increased tenfold in the last five years.
Mirziyoyev noted that the volume of foreign investment attracted to the Khorezm region, which was $30 million in 2016, will exceed $2 billion by 2026.
Since the beginning of the current year, conditions have been created in the districts of Urgench, Khiva, Tuprokkaala, and Urgench for implementing projects in the fields of chemistry, mechanical engineering, building materials, and tourism. The category of a land plot measuring 195 hectares was changed for industrial needs. An additional 100 billion soums has been allocated for improving electrical and road infrastructure.
As part of developing transport infrastructure, an electrified railway line connecting Urgench International Airport with Khiva was commissioned before Independence Day. A toll road between Urgench and Khiva is also being launched, which will be the first toll road in Uzbekistan; the travel time between these cities is expected to decrease from 45 minutes to 20 minutes.
Among the new projects in the region is the production of sustainable aviation fuel in the Tuprokkaala district. This $6 billion project is being implemented jointly with partners from the United Arab Emirates with the participation of the Chinese company Sinopec. Land preparation and project design work has already begun.
In cooperation with Slovak partners, there are plans to develop 5,000 hectares of sandy land and create a bioethanol production facility worth $170 million. Practical work is underway on a 1,500-hectare site.
In Urgench, Japanese partners are involved in the construction of a 250-room hotel and a shopping and entertainment complex worth $30 million, scheduled for full completion in 2027.
Another project in the regional center includes the construction of a modern boiler plant with the participation of a Saudi partner. It is intended to provide heat and electricity to 183 residential buildings and 37 social institutions. Additionally, an ophthalmology clinic will be opened with Turkish partners under a public-private partnership.
In the Urgench district, South Korean investors are implementing a closed-loop waste recycling and green energy production project with a capacity of 71 MW, requiring an investment of $100 million. The creation of the 'Sahro Yulduzi' tourist complex worth $120 million on a 26-hectare plot near Khiva is planned. The Urgench district will also host a copper industry cluster worth $26 million and a fiber optic cable production enterprise worth $60 million.
A university for 5,000 students, a hotel, recreational areas, and shopping centers are planned to be built in the city of Al-Khorezm. The Investor House is also planned for construction in Urgench.
Overall, the announced projects are expected to create 6,600 new jobs. During the ceremony, Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of creating new jobs and modern production facilities, thanking foreign partners and the public participating in the implementation of the projects. After the symbolic launch of the new facilities, the President held a meeting with investors and representatives of the Khorezm region.
