President assigns key tasks to Surkhandarya regional leaders

The governor of Surkhandarya region and district governors have been tasked with increasing investment to $3 billion and exports to $1 billion this year. The targets were announced on February 27 during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the comprehensive development of the Surkhandarya region.

At the meeting, it was emphasized that reducing poverty to 2.8 percent and unemployment to 4.5 percent in the region is a key priority. Plans were also outlined to transform the city of Termez and the districts of Angor, Denov, Jarkurgan, Kizirik, and Muzrabot into areas free from poverty and unemployment.

The share of industry in the regional economy has increased fivefold over the past nine years, reaching 10 percent. However, it was noted that this level remains insufficient.

Although the region has coal reserves of 100 million tons, only about 1 percent is currently being extracted annually. This year, coal mining is scheduled to begin at the “Sanjar” deposit in Boysun and the “Oqsuv” deposit in Oltinsoy, while operations at the “Fangart” deposit are set to start next year.

South Africa’s Sasol company has expressed interest in producing polypropylene, polyethylene, and rubber from coal. Chinese investors are also prepared to invest $1 billion in the “Qorakon,” “Jemsonit,” “Chukur,” and “Bayram-1” deposits in Sariosiyo.

Overall, these reserves represent a ready raw material base for the electrical engineering, construction materials, chemical, metallurgy, and automotive industries. Officials were instructed to conduct feasibility assessments and develop projects worth at least $200 million to establish industrial enterprises around these deposits.

At the “Bezakto‘p” deposit in Boysun, reserves of natural stone that can compete in quality with products from Iran, Turkey, and Italy remain underexplored. Instructions were given to begin geological surveys at deposits with similar stone reserves.