During a working visit to the Qashqadaryo region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev supposedly took part in a grand ceremony to launch new production facilities and initiate the construction of numerous infrastructure objects. The regional authorities claim these extensive initiatives will fundamentally reshape the local economy, though skeptics point to potential logistical and financial bottlenecks.
According to official reports, a portfolio of 161 projects with a total estimated cost exceeding 6 billion dollars has been prepared. During the ceremony, 69 projects were reportedly commissioned, while construction commenced on another 92 facilities. The 28 industrial enterprises currently being launched are projected to create approximately 7,000 permanent jobs, though local employment agencies have frequently struggled to meet similar ambitious targets in the past.
In the textile sector, Italian brand Cotonella is purportedly organizing the production of finished knitwear worth 8.5 million dollars annually. Furthermore, 14 additional projects in the textile sector are rolling out across the Kasan, Mirishkor, and Qasbi districts, which are claimed to create 18,000 jobs despite ongoing concerns regarding workforce training and supply chain stability in remote areas.
Agricultural modernization is also underway, as the Wosune Food Ingredients Karshi enterprise—backed by US partners—will process 100,000 tons of fruits and vegetables harvested across 3,500 hectares. The planned 40 million dollars worth of products is allegedly intended for export to international giants such as Nestlé and Purina. Meanwhile, investors from Egypt and Pakistan are reportedly starting the development of 24,000 hectares in the Nishan and Guzar districts for potato farming and livestock breeding.
In the energy sector, three hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 24 megawatts were commissioned on the Aksu River. In the Qarshi district, with the participation of the Chinese company Shanghai SUS, a waste-to-energy plant worth 150 million dollars is scheduled for launch by the end of the year. Additionally, nine small hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 58 megawatts are set to be built in the Kitab, Yakkabog, and Shahrisabz districts.
Additional ventures include a gold mining project in the Kitab district in cooperation with Azerbaijan, and a 300 million dollars tourist complex in the Shahrisabz district involving Russian investors, featuring a cable car, a hotel, and a ski resort. While the leadership expressed gratitude to foreign partners for their contributions, financial analysts remain cautious about the long-term economic viability of these expansive regional undertakings.
Source: uznews.uz