New tasks were set to develop Karakalpakstan and improve the well-being of the population
A meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held to discuss issues of socio-economic development of Karakalpakstan.
On September 19, a meeting dedicated to the issues of socio-economic development of Karakalpakstan was held in Nukus city under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
At the meeting, plans for developing the region's economy, attracting investments, improving energy, transport and social infrastructure, and increasing employment and incomes of the population were discussed.
It was noted that in recent years a number of privileges have been created for entrepreneurs in Karakalpakstan. Last year, 1.7 billion dollars of investment were attracted to the region. This is 22 times more compared to 2021. In the first half of this year, the economy of Karakalpakstan grew by 10.2 percent.
In the energy sector, 860 megawatts of new capacity have been commissioned in recent years. As a result, electricity generation increased 4 times, reaching 5 billion 330 million kilowatt-hours. The share of "green" energy in the region is 23 percent.
During the visit, 47 projects worth 7 billion dollars were launched. In particular, a wind power plant with a capacity of 1,500 megawatts worth 2.6 billion dollars will be built in Kungirot district. By 2030, it is planned to commission a total of 3,300 megawatts of wind power plants in Karakalpakstan, increase the share of "green" energy to 76 percent, and create 400 megawatts of energy storage capacity.
Major projects are also being implemented in transport infrastructure. The 240-kilometer section of the A-380 highway passing through Kungirot district has been converted to concrete pavement at a cost of 384 million dollars. Construction work worth 233 million dollars has begun on another 92-kilometer section of the road passing through Tortkol, Ellikqala and Beruniy districts.
From March next year, a high-speed train service is expected to be launched on the Tashkent–Nukus route. As a result, travel time will be reduced from 16 hours to 7 hours.
At the meeting, attention was also paid to the issue of deeply processing the region's mineral and energy resources and producing high value-added products. It is planned to turn the "Kungirot – Qoraozak – Taxiatosh" direction into a "green industrial corridor."
In the special zone being established for artificial intelligence and data centers, 6 projects worth 8 billion dollars will be implemented. Over three years, the task was set to create 1,500 high-income jobs in Nukus, Kungirot, Qoraozak and Taxiatosh, and to bring the export of cloud technologies and artificial intelligence services to 600 million dollars per year.
It was also noted that there is an opportunity to earn 50–100 million dollars per year by converting "green" energy into carbon credits. By the end of the year, a task was assigned to launch the "forest carbon credit" program on 50,000 hectares of the Aral region.
In the investment direction, the task was set to attract 5 billion dollars to Karakalpakstan next year. New projects will be implemented in the textile and leather industry, electrical engineering, construction materials, auto parts and pharmaceuticals.
To increase employment of the population, a credit line of 300 billion soums at 16 percent will be opened for reliable clients of banks. Thanks to the Entrepreneurship Development Company covering part of the interest expenses, the credit rate for entrepreneurs will be reduced to 12 percent. The rate for family entrepreneurship loans will also be reduced from 17.5 percent to 12 percent.
In agriculture, special attention was paid to reducing water losses. To deliver water to 417,000 hectares of land in the region, 5.7 billion cubic meters of water are spent per year. Of this, 38 percent, that is, 2.1 billion cubic meters, is lost.
135 billion soums will be allocated for concreting the "Yonbosh" canal in Tortkol and the "Erkindaryo" canal in Bozatov, and for building water structures and artesian wells. Next year, it is planned to grow fodder crops on 17,000 hectares and provide income for 2,000 people.
To develop livestock farming, unused pastures and lands will be developed.
100 billion soums will be directed to adapting 7,500 hectares of land in Bozatov for fodder cultivation. Fodder growers will be given a subsidy of 500,000 soums per hectare.
In horticulture, a three-year program will be implemented to establish salt-resistant plum and late apricot plantations on 30,000 hectares. Through this, the goal is to provide employment for 20,000 people and to bring fruit exports to at least 500 million dollars in three years.
From next spring, melon cultivation will be launched on 10,000 hectares in Nukus district. Varieties and specialists from Spain, the USA, the Netherlands and China will be attracted, and a holding specializing in processing and exporting products will be established.
Construction of "Nukus City," designed for 50,000 residents, has begun in the "Ashshikol" area of Nukus. Energy-efficient buildings, business, trade and service centers, and green areas will be built on 270 hectares.
Tasks were also set for teaching young people modern professions. It is planned to provide 1,000 young people with high-income jobs in information technology and logistics in one year, and another 5,000 young people in the next two years.
In the healthcare sector, a University Medical Cluster will be established in Nukus, combining the Nukus Medical Scientific Academy, the Children's Clinic, the Oncology Center and a new multidisciplinary hospital. The salary supplement of up to 200 percent given to doctors working in Moynoq will also be introduced in Bozatov and Takhtakupir from January 1.
At the meeting, a proposal was also made to worthily celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great poet and thinker of the Karakalpak people, Berdaq Qargabay oglu, next year. A task was assigned to develop within one month a program aimed at studying, digitizing, preserving and passing on his scientific and creative heritage to the youth.
At the end of the meeting, information from the heads of the region and sectors was heard, and a dialogue was held with activists of Karakalpakstan.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded his visit to Karakalpakstan and returned to Tashkent.
