Over the last nine years, the region has attracted $7.5 billion in investments and commissioned 9,700 new production capacities. Additionally, over 33 trillion UZS has been allocated in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises.

As a result, real incomes have doubled. The share of the population employed in industry and construction has reached 18 percent, while the share in the services sector stands at 55 percent. The poverty rate has declined to 4.4 percent, and unemployment has halved to 4.5 percent. A total of 72 mahallas have become free of unemployment and poverty.

The region’s transportation and tourism infrastructure is also being modernized consistently. Over the past nine years, 280 hotels and guest houses have been built, hotel capacity has increased fourfold, and 11 new tourism facilities have been commissioned. Over the past five years, the number of foreign tourists has increased tenfold.

A ceremony to launch new projects in Khorezm region and to begin construction of promising facilities was held at the Farovon Khiva Hotel in Khiva, with the participation of the President of Uzbekistan.

“From the very first days of reforms in New Uzbekistan, we identified creating new jobs and launching modern production capacities as one of our priorities. To this end, we approved separate programs and decisions for Khorezm region, clearly identified sources of financing and responsible officials, and organized the relevant work”, the Head of State said.

While only $30 million in foreign investment was attracted to Khorezm region in 2016, the figure is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2026.

Since the beginning of the year, the necessary conditions have been established in Urgench and Khiva, as well as in Tuproqqala and Urgench districts, to implement new projects in the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, construction materials production, and tourism. Issues related to changing the land category of 195 hectares for industrial use have been resolved, and 100 billion UZS has been allocated to improve electricity and road infrastructure.

In addition, ahead of Independence Day, an electrified railway line from Urgench International Airport to Khiva has been commissioned. The Urgench – Khiva toll road is also being launched and will become Uzbekistan’s first toll road. Thanks to the new road, travel time from Urgench to Khiva will be reduced from 45 to 20 minutes.

“Continuing this work, today we will commission 12 projects worth $176 million together with you. In addition, we will launch construction of 15 new facilities worth $7.424 billion, to be built with the participation of foreign partners”, the President said.

In particular, a $6 billion project to produce environmentally friendly aviation fuel will be implemented in Tuproqqala district in partnership with partners from the United Arab Emirates. China’s Sinopec has been engaged in the project, and work has begun on preparing the land plot and developing project documentation.

Plans are underway, in collaboration with Slovak partners, to develop 5,000 hectares of sandy land and establish a $170 million bioethanol production enterprise. Practical work has already begun on 1,500 hectares.

In Urgench, a 250-bed hotel and a $30 million shopping and entertainment complex are under construction in partnership with Japanese partners. Full commissioning of the project is scheduled for 2027.

Together with a partner from Saudi Arabia, a modern boiler facility will be built in the regional center to provide heat and electricity to 183 apartment buildings and 37 social facilities. An ophthalmology clinic will also be established in partnership with Turkish partners under a public-private partnership.

In Urgench district, Uzbekistan’s first closed-loop waste recycling and green energy generation project, with a capacity of 71 megawatts, will be implemented with Korean investors. The project will receive a total investment of $100 million.

In addition, the modern Sakhro Yulduzi tourism complex, valued at $120 million, will be built on a 26-hectare site adjacent to Khiva. A $26 million copper industry cluster and a $60 million fiber-optic cable manufacturing enterprise will be constructed in Urgench district.

A modern university for 5,000 students, along with hotel, recreational, and retail complexes, will be built in Al Khwarizmi Town. An Investors’ House building will also be constructed in Urgench.

Overall, these projects are expected to create 6,600 new jobs.

The Head of State thanked foreign partners and public representatives involved in implementing these projects.

The President pressed a symbolic button to commission the new projects and initiate construction. He also held a friendly discussion with investors and regional community representatives.