ТASHKENT, February 2. /Dunyo IA/. Today, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on enhancing the efficiency of Navoi International Airport and transforming enterprises within the civil aviation sector, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the press service of the Head of our State, although the main indicators of Navoi International Airport grew in 2023 compared to 2022, its capacity for aircraft servicing, passenger, and cargo transportation is not fully utilized.

There is also a need to modernize the airport’s infrastructure, equipment fleet, cargo and passenger terminals, and to digitalize operational processes.

During the presentation, it was proposed to develop Navoi International Airport based on the project management principles.

The airport will be removed from the centralized operational management system of "Uzbekistan Airports" JSC and granted the authority to independently negotiate and conclude agreements with local and foreign airlines for passenger and cargo transportation, as well as for transit and technical landings.

Tasks were set to increase the export of aviation services by directing the airport's revenues towards modernizing its infrastructure, expanding fuel tanks, and establishing aircraft repair and painting services.

A business plan for the development of Navoi International Airport was reported. According to the project, indicators for both commercial and non-aviation activities are expected to increase by 50 per cent, regular flights involving more than 25 airlines will be launched, and cargo handling volumes will exceed 20,000 tons.

The task was set to create a "porto-franco" free customs zone on the airport's territory, specializing in providing technical and commercial services for aircraft.

Special equipment and spare parts imported for aircraft maintenance will be exempt from customs duties until January 1, 2029. A decision was also taken to place the hotel located on the airport’s premises under the airport’s management.

During the presentation, particular attention was paid to the transformation of civil aviation enterprises.

Information was presented on comprehensive measures to improve the efficiency of enterprises and ensure their financial stability, which include reducing costs, rational use of resources, and outsourcing non-core services.

The need to reduce operating costs by introducing energy-saving technologies and using specialized electric-powered transport was noted.

A decision was made to cease the financing of non-core activities of the joint-stock companies “Uzbekistan Airways” and “Uzbekistan Airports” starting from 2026. The operations of Uzbekistan Airports will be conducted on the basis of 18 priority tasks, while Uzbekistan Airways will operate under 16 priority tasks.

In particular, priority tasks identified include increasing the competitiveness of enterprises by improving service quality, introducing optimal methods for calculating the cost of services and products, digitalizing all stages of production processes, as well as training and professional development of personnel.

As part of the transformation, measures will be implemented to revise organizational structures, optimize staff numbers, improve international credit ratings, launch an IPO, and issue corporate international bonds.

The meeting also addressed issues of fundamentally improving the personnel training system in the aviation industry, including the progress of work on establishing a Civil Aviation University and an affiliated aviation technical college.

The educational institutions will be established in cooperation with leading international aviation education centers such as Embry-Riddle (USA) and ENAC (France). In addition to training specialists in practical professions such as flight attendants, aviation technicians, and mechanics, the university will introduce programs for training pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and managers, as well as plans to launch scientific programs.

Having approved the proposals, the President issued the relevant instructions to officials.