During his visit to the Bukhara region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting focused on the region’s socio-economic development, the press service of the head of our state reports.
“We have arrived with new initiatives worth 30 billion dollars, which will bring positive changes to Bukhara’s economy and the daily lives of its people,” the Head of State noted.
It was emphasized during the meeting that the outcomes of these initiatives should, first and foremost, be reflected in the development of infrastructure essential for the population and the creation of new sources of income. In this context, plans were reviewed for developing drinking water supply and sewage networks, upgrading roads, and implementing new projects in the industrial and service sectors.
With the participation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a 385-million-dollar project is underway to improve water supply and sewage systems. An additional 248 million dollars will be secured for the second phase of this project. As a result, the quality of water supply will improve for 1.7 million residents, and 775,000 people will gain access to a centralized sewage network. The coverage of the population with centralized water supply will increase from the current 80 percent to 95 percent. The President instructed that priority be given to establishing clear timelines and accelerating work in the 55 *mahallas* (neighborhoods) currently awaiting connection to the water supply network.
Projects aimed at enhancing the region’s transport connectivity were also discussed. The reconstruction of the A-380 highway, which passes through the Bukhara region, is set to be completed this year. Next year, the upgrading of a 69-kilometer stretch of the M-37 highway within the region will begin. This project also includes the construction of a 4.5-kilometer bypass road around the regional center. Plans are underway to construct a toll road with a cement-concrete surface, as well as a new railway line for high-speed trains, along the Samarkand–Bukhara route. The new road is expected to reduce travel time from the current five hours to one and a half hours. Officials have been tasked with finalizing the master plans for both projects and initiating negotiations with potential partners.
A new international airport, with a price tag of $300 million, is being built in Bukhara. It will be designed to accommodate 20 aircraft and 1,200 passengers simultaneously.
A 24-kilometer road will connect the airport to the city center, featuring a dedicated 5.5-kilometer Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane. The Turkish airline Pegasus is launching direct flights to Bukhara, and plans are in place to establish air links with Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Egypt, and Bahrain next year.
During the meeting, the need to improve local transportation within the region was highlighted, alongside the construction of new roads and the airport. Although 900 billion soums have been allocated this year for road improvements, 2,000 kilometers of local roads and 266 bridges still require repair. Authorities have been instructed to explore options for attracting private investment for the renovation and maintenance of this infrastructure, as well as for the construction of alternative toll roads connecting major tourist routes.
Due to the underdeveloped state of public transport, 80 percent of the population relies on private cars for daily travel. In response, the delivery of 120 buses to the region will be expedited. Objectives have also been set to improve the quality of service at the airport and railway stations, and to implement a unified approach to landscaping that takes into account the local climate and the historical character of Bukhara.
Tourism is a key driver of the region’s economic development. It is expected that 3.5 million foreign tourists will visit Bukhara this year. There is a clear need to double this figure, extend the duration of tourists’ stays in the region, and expand the tourism season to cover other months of the year.
To achieve this, historical sites—such as the Old City, Yetti Pir, Chor-Bakr, Paykend, Varakhsha, and Vardonze—will be integrated into a cohesive tourism concept. A tourism center is being developed on a 50-hectare site in the Gulchorbog mahalla, while a congress hall for international events, along with Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels, is under construction in the Jalol Ikromi mahalla. Eight central streets in the city will be renovated, and six public squares will be created. Furthermore, plans are in place to establish a $500 million tourism cluster spanning 1,000 hectares in the Bukhara district.
The President emphasized that, alongside the creation of new facilities, it is essential to broaden the range of tourism services and enhance their quality. The tourism season in Bukhara has already been extended from four to six months, and approximately 30 international events are planned for next year.
However, the region lacks five-star hotels and has an insufficient number of large-scale shopping and entertainment centers; furthermore, the majority of existing facilities and services are concentrated in the city of Bukhara.
Officials have been tasked with developing a month-by-month plan to increase the influx of foreign tourists to 7 million. This plan must clearly outline new tourism packages, events, and facilities to be launched across the region’s districts, as well as identify target markets for attracting visitors.
It was noted during the meeting that the regional economy is set to surpass the 100 trillion soum mark for the first time this year, with a growth rate of 10.1 percent. According to survey results, 98 percent of Bukhara’s residents report an improvement in their quality of life, while 83 percent of entrepreneurs view the prospects for the next three years with optimism. At the same time, the region’s economic growth remains dependent on industries based on natural resources and agriculture. These sectors account for 43 percent of the economy, whereas the share of the service sector has grown only from 33 to 36 percent over the last decade.
The President has set the objective of diversifying the economy, deepening the processing of raw materials, and identifying key growth drivers in each district. Specific plans will be developed to increase output in the industrial, service, and agricultural sectors by a factor of 1.5.
It was noted that by combining the raw material and energy resources of the Bukhara region with its entrepreneurial potential, it is possible to implement industrial projects with a total value of $28 billion over the next three years. Of this amount, $17 billion is earmarked for the oil, gas, and chemical industries. The task has been set to attract leading technology companies to expand the capacity of the Bukhara Oil Refinery and to establish a petrochemical research and industrial cluster in the Kagan district. In the energy sector, power plants with a total capacity of approximately 2,000 megawatts have been commissioned within a short period. Over the next three years, plans include the construction of wind power plants with a total capacity of 3,100 megawatts, as well as energy storage systems with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Alongside the introduction of new generation capacity, the region’s electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure is set to be developed, including the construction of 745 kilometers of power lines.
The development of the light industry was also addressed. A goal has been set to expand the presence of textile products from the Bukhara region in foreign markets, building upon experience gained through cooperation with international brands. For the coming year, the sector is expected to implement projects worth at least $1 billion and double its export volume.
Regarding social sector initiatives, discussions focused on increasing the number of private preschools and general education institutions, enrolling 50 percent of school graduates in technical colleges, and fostering partnerships between these colleges and major entrepreneurs and investors. A target has been established to double the reach of dual education programs across ten public and private higher education institutions in the region.
This year, efforts were directed toward upgrading 29 hospitals and polyclinics. The President emphasized the need to improve the quality of medical services—particularly at the primary care level—attract investment into the sector, and more effectively leverage the expertise of compatriots who have gained professional experience abroad.
During the meeting, reports and plans for the upcoming year were presented by the heads of various sectors and regions. The President of our country noted the exceptional dedication shown by Nargiza Nematova, the *hokim* (head) of the Alat District, to the comprehensive development of the district. He announced the decision to award her the “Fidokorona xizmatlari uchun” (“For Selfless Service”) Order, in recognition of her long and fruitful work within state authorities and administrative bodies, as well as her contributions to improving the well-being of the population through the creation of new jobs.
With this, the President concluded his visit to the Bukhara Region and returned to Tashkent.
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