Thirteen streets in the historic center of Samarkand will be converted into pedestrian zones, as announced during a meeting on the Samarkand region chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 10.
The meeting focused on expanding the tourism potential of the Samarkand region. Since the beginning of 2026, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country has increased by 27.3% to 5.4 million. It was noted that Uzbekistan plans to raise the number of foreign tourists to 20 million and tourism exports to $10 billion. To achieve this, the need to develop new routes and service facilities that can retain tourists for longer periods was emphasized.
In this regard, the initiative to turn 13 streets in Samarkand's historic center into pedestrian zones and build new tourism and service facilities was supported. Additionally, the expansion of the "Okhalik — Akbuyra — Mironkul" tourist-recreation zone was proposed. The improvement of the area around the "Shaar" collector, which flows opposite the Imam Moturidi memorial complex, was also discussed.
As a result of these measures, the target is to increase the number of hotels in Samarkand city, Nurobod and Samarkand districts to 850, the room capacity to 20,000, and the volume of tourism services to $750 million.
The meeting emphasized that creating comfortable infrastructure for residents is a top priority. To this end, a proposal was made to allocate 1.2 trillion soums for the construction of social facilities, improvement of roads, drinking water and sewage networks, electricity supply, implementation of service and renovation projects, and provision of infrastructure for industrial projects.
In Samarkand city, a master plan for the renovation of the "Kimyogarlar" neighborhood is to be approved within a month. The expansion of the "Yangi Uzbekistan" neighborhood under construction in Bulungur district was also ordered. By the end of the year, sports, culture, music, and art centers are to be established on vacant land and buildings in the "Temiryo'l orti" area of Samarkand.
The establishment of a fund for the construction and repair of social facilities under the regional administration was approved. Savings from projects implemented under the socio-economic development programs of Samarkand region will be directed to this fund.
It was noted that remote areas, despite having large populations, lack sufficient high-income jobs. The combined share of Narpay, Qo'shrabot, Paxtachi, Kattaqo'rg'on districts and Kattaqo'rg'on city in the region's industry is only 10%. Unemployment and poverty rates in Narpay, Paxtachi, Pastdarg'om districts and Kattaqo'rg'on city are higher compared to other areas.
Therefore, it was proposed to develop these areas based on specific specialization according to their potential. Specifically, Bulung'ur, Qo'shrabot, Paxtachi, and Kattaqo'rg'on districts will be developed as centers of agriculture, livestock, and horticulture. A $50 million breeding enterprise with an annual capacity of 100,000 heads is planned in Bulung'ur, and $20 million pedigree chick enterprises with an annual capacity of 800,000 units are planned in Qo'shrabot and Oqdaryo.
Narpay district and Kattaqo'rg'on city will become growth points for industry and services. In Narpay, an industrial zone on 100 hectares will be established, hosting projects worth $500 million for high-value-added products. Ten major Japanese companies are expected to be involved.
Oqdaryo district will be developed as a territory specializing in poultry farming, textiles, and processing industries.
The meeting presented projects to reduce unemployment by 3% and poverty by 2% in Narpay, Paxtachi, Pastdarg'om districts and Kattaqo'rg'on city; increase exports by 20% in Ishtixon, Narpay, Nurobod, Paxtachi, Qo'shrabot, and Kattaqo'rg'on districts; and double the volume of services and industry in Bulung'ur, Narpay, Nurobod, Payariq, Paxtachi, Qo'shrabot, Kattaqo'rg'on districts and Kattaqo'rg'on city.
Source: www.gazeta.uz