Shavkat Mirziyoyev visits a mahalla in Tashkent’s old city

On January 23, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited tourism and service facilities established along Zarkaynar Street in the Hastimom mahalla of Tashkent’s Olmazor district. The visit was reported by the press service of the President.

It was noted that tourism is a sector capable of creating a large number of jobs with relatively low investment, while also increasing household incomes and improving the appearance of urban areas. Tashkent has significant potential in this regard. In particular, a project covering 447 hectares is being implemented in the Olmazor district to fully unlock this potential. Under the project, tourism and service facilities are being developed along six district-level streets connecting 15 mahallas.

Part of this project includes the redevelopment work carried out on Zarkaynar Street. The area stands out for its centuries-old historical character, traditional architectural style, and strong craftsmanship heritage.

Using 150 billion soums allocated from the state budget, 576 residential houses in the area were renovated in a national architectural style, giving the mahalla a look consistent with its historical environment. As a result of 166 billion soums in private investment by around 100 entrepreneurs, seven hotels, eight restaurants, five handicraft centers, one shopping complex, and 125 service facilities were established, creating permanent jobs for 1,500 people.

Walking along the renovated street, the President reviewed the restored houses, improved streets, and amenities created for residents. He also spoke with local families, tourists, and artisans living and working in the area.

“We want to create favorable conditions for tourists, but first we must build a strong foundation. For example, craftsmanship is one of the key areas that reflects our national identity. Therefore, it is our responsibility to provide artisans with all the necessary conditions to produce their goods. We need to train qualified specialists. For this purpose, it would be appropriate to establish a university for artisans. We are meeting with entrepreneurs, and going forward, we will also hold separate meetings with craftsmen,” the President said.

The responsible officials were instructed to further improve tourism and service sectors, increase economic activity while preserving the historical environment of mahallas, and, most importantly, create a sustainable system that serves the interests of the people.

During the visit, the President was also presented with a master plan for the development of the Olmazor innovative growth area. The presentation outlined the concept of spatial development, the results of needs assessments, and proposed functional zoning solutions.

According to the master plan, “development corridors” will be formed, encompassing education and innovation, tourism and trade, cultural heritage, business, and IT services.

The plan also envisages connecting tourism routes around the old city, including the Student City, universities and technoparks, healthcare facilities, as well as the Center of Islamic Civilization, the Hazrati Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar, and the historic city center. At the same time, offices, IT parks, and business centers are set to be developed in the northern central business district.

The implementation of the master plan aims to preserve historical heritage while developing modern infrastructure, thereby elevating the area’s economic potential and urban environment to a new qualitative level.

“A master plan of at least five years should be developed for every street. Yesterday in Davos, Switzerland, I saw how cities are developed in a way that preserves buildings while adapting the urban environment to modern needs. We must also preserve and further develop the old city. For this purpose, a separate ‘Old City’ program should be developed,” the President said.