On March 31, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on the effectiveness of reforms and further priority tasks for the Namangan region.
It was emphasized that in recent years Namangan has seen significant growth in industry, services, and entrepreneurship, becoming a model for other regions in many areas. In particular, over the past eight years, more than 40,000 enterprises have been launched, and production has increased sixfold to 40 trillion soums.
By the end of 2025, the gross regional product amounted to 85.4 trillion soums, showing 8.2 percent growth. Industrial output stood at 40.1 trillion soums, while services totaled 56.3 trillion soums. The region attracted $3.3 billion in foreign investment, and exports reached $916 million.
The Head of State stressed that amid instability in global markets, it is important to maintain the pace of economic growth and tap new growth drivers in Namangan. In this regard, the region’s leadership has been tasked with ensuring 9.2 percent economic growth, 9 percent industrial growth, 16.3 percent growth in services, and 6.8 percent agricultural growth in 2026, as well as increasing tourism service exports by 1.7 times. Tasks were also to raise foreign investment to $5 billion and exports to $1.2 billion.
The need to reduce the unemployment rate to 3.5 percent and the poverty level to 2.5 percent by the end of the year was noted, as well as to turn the city of Namangan, and the Davlatabad, Yangi-Namangan, Namangan, Kasansay, Naryn, and Uychi districts into areas free of unemployment and poverty.
The meeting paid special attention to the deep analysis of regional potential using artificial intelligence technologies. It was noted that, as an example, the capabilities of the Naryn district were analyzed, revealing reserves to double investment, increase industrial growth by 10.4 percent, and exports by 35 percent this year alone. Instructions were given to extend this approach to all districts of the region.
It was noted that ensuring food security is one of the most pressing tasks in the current circumstances. Amid disruptions in transport and logistics chains, as well as in the supply of fuel and mineral fertilizers, further increases in agricultural efficiency are required. In this regard, the task was set to create modern intensive orchards on 2,500 hectares occupied by low-yield plantations, and to develop 8,000 hectares of new land. The implementation of these measures will create additional sources of income and new jobs.
The meeting paid particular attention to large investment projects. In particular, the need to build an additional electrical substation to ensure the full implementation of 15 projects worth $547 million in the Sabzazor area of the Namangan free economic zone was noted. To date, 7 projects worth $215 million have already been launched.
It was also proposed to build a modern IT park worth $20 million. It was noted that the project will help attract international IT companies, create new jobs, and accelerate digital transformation, as well as the development of artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and the startup ecosystem in the region.
Initiatives to transform the Davlatabad district into a smart city, establish an artificial intelligence laboratory, and create a startup club based on the vacant facilities of Namangan State Technical University were also discussed. It was reported that, through the unified digital platform “Smart City Namangan,” the phased integration of utility services, waste management systems, environmental monitoring, and transport infrastructure is planned.
A number of new initiatives in industry and entrepreneurship were considered at the meeting. In particular, a proposal was put forward to allocate 24 hectares of land for a 60-megawatt green energy project in the Chust district. A project to build a plant for the production of non-alcoholic beverages, juices, and baby food in the Chartak district was also presented.
Significant agricultural resources were also emphasized. In 2026–2027, as part of relevant initiatives, plans are in place to establish orchards and vineyards on 3,948 hectares, plant 1.3 million seedlings, and introduce drip irrigation on 1,500 hectares.
Plans were reported to implement a major $50 million poultry project, which will create facilities for the production of 813 million eggs and 2,000 tons of meat. This will fully meet regional demand for eggs and enable exports of poultry products worth $42 million to Central Asian and Arab countries.
The issue of turning tourism into a key sector of economic development was also considered.
To turn the region into a tourism center of the valley, it was proposed to create a modern tourist complex on the shores of the Arashan lakes in Pap district, establish the international multifunctional mountain resort Qamchiq Mountain Resort in the Kamchik pass area, develop a tourist center in the Gulistan mahalla of Chodak village, a large tourist center in the Olmazor mahalla of Kasansay district, and implement a project to create an artificial lake in the Nanay settlement of Yangikurgan district.
In addition, it was proposed to establish a tourist complex in the old city part of Namangan, which will combine national architectural and craft traditions with modern services. Initiatives were put forward to build modern eco-bazaars on the basis of the Chorsu and Sardoba markets, as well as to construct multi-level parking lots. It was noted that these projects will contribute to the revitalization of the urban economy and the creation of new jobs in trade and services.
A number of major infrastructure improvement projects were also considered. In particular, under a public-private partnership, plans are in place to reconstruct Namangan’s sewage system and, for the first time, provide wastewater drainage networks to the district centers of Uchkurgan and Uychi. In these districts, it is also planned to build a new treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters, lay 40 kilometers of new networks, and replace 28 kilometers of outdated pipelines. In total, the modernization will benefit 42,000 residents and 6,983 households.
The issue of accelerating construction in the town of New Namangan was addressed separately. As part of the project, plans are in place to create 30,000 jobs, repair 25.2 kilometers of roads, lay 7.2 kilometers of pedestrian paths and 4.7 kilometers of water supply networks, and develop 7.4 kilometers of green areas.
Large-scale initiatives in the social sphere were also put forward. In particular, it was proposed to establish kindergartens for 15,000 children in the city of Namangan in 2026 and to build additional kindergartens through public-private partnerships on 42,000 square meters of vacant land at 21 educational institutions.
In the healthcare sector, initiatives were considered to establish a Namangan branch of the Republican Specialized Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics, equip the oncology and radiology center with a modern PET scanner, reconstruct the multidisciplinary medical center, and introduce high-tech surgical procedures. It was noted that this will expand access to high-quality medical care not only for residents of the region but also for patients from neighboring areas.
Following the meeting, the President instructed responsible officials to fully utilize the existing potential of the Namangan region, turn every project into tangible results, increase employment and incomes, and expand the production of export-oriented products with high added value.