On December 19 this year, there was a video-conference from the studio in Nukus headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov involving the heads of ministries, departments, industry associations, joint-stock companies, commercial banks and local authorities dedicated to the execution of orders of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan during his visit to the region in October this year.

The meeting provided the hearing of reports from the heads of the relevant ministries, departments, commercial banks and local authorities on the implemented measures for the integrated social and economic development of the region.

It was noted that the region plans to implement 1,359 projects worth UZS 12.3 trillion and create 17,572 new jobs for the period from 2020 to 2022. At the same time its is planned to implement 645 projects worth UZS 4.3 trillion by the end of this year providing the creation of 5,437 new jobs. During the meeting, the executive officers of ministries and departments received the task to unconditionally comply with the schedules for the implementation and commissioning of these projects. The heads of commercial banks were assigned to ensure their timely financing.

At the same time, the discussion touched upon certain issues that require careful study and the adoption of effective measures. In particular, there was a critical consideration of the progress in the initiative to create a mono-center of professional training 'Ishga Markhamat', as well as a number of other measures aimed at the creation of necessary conditions to ensure employment to the low-income population, temporarily unemployed and compatriots who returned from abroad by obtaining qualifications in popular areas and training in foreign languages. There were instructions to take urgent measures to resolve existing issues and ensure the accelerated implementation of the planned measures.

The participants considered the issues of practical support for the activities of a number of cotton processing enterprises, livestock and textile clusters, as well as the creation of agricultural cooperatives and greenhouses based on the personal homestead lands in order to provide employment for low-income population and compatriots who have returned from abroad.

Particular attention touched upon the infrastructure development with a view to the implementation of economically and socially significant projects for the construction and re-engineering of water supply and sewerage facilities in a number of districts and cities of the region.

The participants noted the importance of innovations and support of start-up projects in priority areas and received instructions to assist appropriately their initiators.

They also emphasized the need to continuously review additional opportunities and reserves for industrial and exports growth, as well as for the creation of new jobs. To do this, the heads of 38 diplomatic missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad were sent to the region. During the coming week, they will review the current situation locally in order to develop specific proposals for the integrated social and economic development of territories with reference to the capabilities of the countries, where they head the diplomatic mission. 

Alongside, diplomatic missions will take measures to attract foreign direct investment in the creation of industries with high added value and a large number of new jobs, as well as grants and concessional financing for the implementation of infrastructure and socially oriented projects. In addition, the diplomatic officials will have to search for potential foreign customers for domestic export-oriented products.

The meeting finally indicated the personal responsibility of the heads of ministries, departments, commercial banks, and local authorities for the timely and high-quality execution of the orders of the Chief of State. The General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan will constantly monitor the execution thereof.