“The situation in Kashkadarya must change radically in all areas. The region has every opportunity to achieve this. Everyone should wake up,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Based on the proposals of the khokims and the analysis of the problems in the region, entrepreneurship has been identified as the main direction of development. The year 2021 has been declared the Year of Entrepreneurship Development in the Kashkadarya region. Ministers, heads of sectors and banks have been assigned to districts and cities to work on this issue.

The head of state stressed the need to specialize the districts in certain areas of the economy, given today’s market demand and “growth points”.

In particular, Yakkabag, Kamashi, Chirakchi, Shakhrisabz and Kitab districts will be specialized in horticulture and viticulture. Several petrochemical plants may be established in the Guzar and Mubarek districts, and factories for the production of building materials – in the Chirakchi and Dekhkanabad districts.

Kasbi, Nishan, Mirishkor and Kasan districts will specialize in livestock farming; the aim is to create large complexes and small livestock farms and to allocate land for the feed base.

The Ministry of Finance has been instructed to establish a subsidy mechanism for the development of land for livestock and cattle production. 950 projects worth 28 trillion soums will be implemented in the region in 2021-2022. As a result, 15,000 jobs will be created. The meeting also focused on measures to reduce poverty and create a source of income for the needy and the unemployed.

Officials have been instructed to introduce water-saving technologies on 50,000 hectares of land next year.

The President paid special attention to the issues of housing, construction of roads and drinking water networks. The task has been set to increase the level of centralized drinking water supply in the region to 79%, especially in the Guzar district, where the situation is dire.

The issue of ensuring the interests of youth and women was analyzed in depth.

“A new system for working with young people will be introduced in the region. The khokims declare one day a week as a day to work with young people and deal with their problems,” the head of state said.

Measures have been identified to improve the living conditions of 2,815 women in need of social protection and to involve unemployed women in handicrafts based on the traditions of “Teacher-Apprentice”.

“The path we have chosen is a path of hardship. We have huge plans for Kashkadarya, a lot of money is being given. Now the main task is to correctly direct these resources, to create decent conditions for people,” Mirziyoyev said.