President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set tasks to increase investments and exports in Surkhandarya region during a meeting on its comprehensive development. He noted that foreign investors are showing interest in the region's deposits.

In the past period, over 8,000 projects worth $5 billion were launched in the region. Agreements worth $10 billion were reached on investment and trade with countries such as China, the U.S., Russia, India, Austria, and Hungary.

"The regional governor and district governors have the task of bringing investments to $3 billion and exports to $1 billion this year," said the president.

The importance of reducing poverty by 2.8% and unemployment by 4.5%, as well as turning Termiz city, Angor, Denov, Jarqurgon, Qiziriq, and Muzrabot into "poverty- and unemployment-free territories" was emphasized.

The share of industry in the region's economy has increased fivefold over the past 9 years, reaching 10%, but this is still insufficient. The region has coal reserves of 100 million tons, but only 1% is extracted annually. This year, it was instructed to start coal mining at the "Sanjar" deposit in Boysun and "Oqsuv" in Oltinsoy, and next year at "Fangart".

South African company Sasol has expressed interest in producing polypropylene, polyethylene, and rubber from coal. Chinese investors are ready to invest $1 billion in the "Qorakon", "Jemsonit", "Chuqur", and "Bayram-1" deposits in Sariosiyo, the president stated.

These reserves represent a ready raw material base for electrical engineering, construction materials, chemistry, metallurgy, and automotive industries. It was instructed to plan the placement of industrial enterprises around these deposits and form projects worth at least $200 million.

At the "Bezaktop" deposit in Boysun, there are unexplored natural stone reserves whose quality can compete with Iranian, Turkish, and Italian stones. Instructions were given to start geological work at such deposits.

Source: www.gazeta.uz