TASHKENT, February 4. /Dunyo IA/. Today, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on the priority tasks for the socio-economic development of the Fergana region, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the press service of the Head of our state, at the beginning of the meeting, the outcomes of the systemic reforms implemented in the Fergana region in recent years were analyzed. Despite limited land and mineral resources, the regional economy has continued to diversify, ensuring steady growth across industry, agriculture, services, and information technology.

In particular, gross regional product per capita increased from 7 million soums in 2017 to 26.6 million soums by 2025, an increase of 3.8 times. This indicates a significant growth in economic activity and household incomes.

Positive dynamics were also noted in employment and social protection. Last year, 519,000 people gained employment, enabling income growth and the removal of 53,000 families from the low-income households. In the future, by the end of 2026, it is planned to reduce the unemployment rate to 3 percent and the poverty rate to 2.7 percent.

The region's investment and foreign trade activities also showed significant growth. The region has implemented 26 large and 357 medium and small investment projects, and has attracted $1.2 billion in foreign investment. Export volumes continue to rise, alongside an increase in the number of exporting enterprises.

Last year, 816,700 tons of grain were produced on 94,300 hectares of agricultural land, with an average yield of 86.6 centners per hectare. In cotton farming, 324,000 tons were harvested from 72,000 hectares. Fruit and vegetable exports reached $403 million. Through household plots and compact greenhouses, thousands of families have gained a stable additional source of income.

The meeting identified the priority tasks for the development of the Fergana region.

It was noted that a systemic and targeted approach is required for stable growth in investment and export volumes, and for reducing unemployment and poverty. To this end, a package of new large projects with a total value of $8.2 billion has been formed for the Fergana region.

This year, it is planned to launch projects with a total value of $4.2 billion, of which $2.7 billion is for industry, $210 million for agriculture, and $1.2 billion for services and tourism.

At the same time, it was noted that of the 2,115 hectares of land allocated for industrial purposes in recent years, 40 percent have not yet been put up for auction. It was emphasized that before allocating additional land, it is necessary to improve the infrastructure of existing vacant plots and offer them to entrepreneurs to increase the efficiency of investment project placement.

This year, it is planned to create 98,000 permanent jobs, increase the incomes of 423,000 residents, and bring 74 thousand jobs into the official sector of the economy.

The task was set to turn the Buvayda, Uchkuprik, Kuva, Uzbekistan, and Yazyavan districts, as well as the cities of Margilan, Fergana, Kokand, and Kuvasay into unemployment- and poverty-free areas. More than 800 billion soums will be allocated to improve infrastructure in 7 districts and 132 mahallas with difficult conditions to halve unemployment and poverty. In addition, within the framework of the "Mahalla Loyihasi" program, banks will provide credit resources in the amount of 1.4 trillion soums.

In agriculture, the task was set to increase the volume of fruit and vegetable exports to $510 million by establishing their supply not as raw materials, but as finished products with high added value. To this end, with the participation of Chinese investors, agro-logistics centers with a total cost of $175 million will be built in the cities of Fergana and Kuvasay.

In the Uzbekistan, Besharyk, and Altyaryk districts, it is planned to launch 4 projects with a total value of $21 million in the field of animal husbandry, milk processing, and breeding of pedigree chicks.

The need to develop social infrastructure in proportion to population growth was emphasized. This year, 343 billion soums have been allocated for the construction and reconstruction of 33 schools. Regional leaders have been instructed to improve infrastructure by utilizing additional opportunities and attracting the private sector.

To expand tourism potential, tourist complexes will be developed in the Sokh district, based on the experience of Ugam and Miraki, and a large tourist and recreational zone will be established in the Fergana district. In Kokand, new tourist facilities will be created and routes covering cultural heritage sites will be organized.

In addition, a task has been set in Kokand to establish a convenient and efficient one-stop system for delivering all public services by relocating 17 government institutions to the “Yangi Uzbekistan” complex.

In the field of information technology, the active development of the IT sector is planned as one of the key drivers of the Fergana region's economy.

Currently, there are 139 IT park residents in the region. This year, the goal is to increase the volume of IT services to 3.5 trillion soums and exports to $30 million. In the city of Fergana, plans include the establishment of a new IT park and complex, as well as the implementation of the “Heirs of Muhammad al-Khwarizmi” project. An international IT university will be built In Margilan.

Following the meeting, the Head of state issued specific instructions for the implementation of each project, ensuring their close linkage to employment creation, improvements in living standards, and the strengthening of personal accountability for achieving the set objectives.