Shavkat Mirziyoyev on September 18 attended a ceremony in Nukus to launch new projects and begin construction as part of his visit to Karakalpakstan. According to his press service, 11 projects worth $592 million were put into operation, and construction began on 47 projects worth $7 billion with foreign partners.

These projects are expected to create 8,000 jobs. The figures are meant to partially address employment issues in one of Uzbekistan’s most economically depressed regions. However, many previously announced large-scale projects in the area have not been fully implemented, fueling skepticism among independent observers.

The launched projects cover energy, digital economy, industry, transport, healthcare, and services. The president thanked entrepreneurs and foreign partners and called on the public and scholars to exercise public oversight over each project’s implementation. This call likely responds to past concerns about corruption and embezzlement that have plagued similar initiatives.

At the same event, a presentation was held for the “New Uzbekistan” residential complex planned for young families in Nukus. A 270-hectare plot has been allocated, and design work has begun. The complex will include multi-storey buildings, business centres, retail, service, and entertainment facilities for 30,000 residents.

Karakalpakstan remains one of the country’s most troubled regions, grappling with economic backwardness, water scarcity, and unemployment. While such mega-projects are important, their real effectiveness is often questioned by international financial institutions and independent economists, as many promises have remained on paper.

Source: www.gazeta.uz