On September 14, 2019, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has visited Kokand Free Economic Zone.

Here, the Head of the state was briefed on projects for attraction of foreign investments into the integrated development of Kokand and Margilan. Thus, over the next three years, it is planned to attract soft loans of international financial institutions in the amount of 1 billion 354 million dollars. These funds are to be mastered in three directions – development of industry and entrepreneurship, modernization of infrastructure and construction of multi-story housing.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the need for devising a five-year development plan for these two cities and to revise housing projects.

“The first you need to do is study where there are problems, what people think”, the President noted. “Residents should know when and where the construction will take place. Housing and jobs must be balanced in calculations. It is feasible, taking into account the traditions of Fergana handicrafts and the possibilities of the region, to organize enterprises of leather products and shoes, porcelain, jewelry and other types of manufacturing outlets”.

The Head of the state got acquainted with conditions created in the economic zone and activities of enterprises.

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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has visited Shaffof Omadli Sanoat private enterprise operating in Kokand Free Economic Zone.

Established by a 12 January 2017 presidential decree, the FEZ occupies almost 710 hectares. 94 investment projects for a total amount of 180 million US dollars are currently under implementation here in industries such as mechanical and electrical engineering, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing, leather and shoe production.

To date, 29 facilities worth almost 52 million dollars have already been commissioned, and about 1.7 thousand jobs have been created. For eight months of this year, residents of the FEZ produced goods for more than 407 billion soums and exported for 3.3 million USD.

Shaffof Omadli Sanoat was set up as part of the investment program for Fergana region development in 2019-2020 that came out as a result of the President’s visit to the region in May this year.

The company is capable of manufacturing 230 thousand units of methane and 250 thousand units of propane equipment, 300 thousand pieces of components and spare parts a year.

As estimates suggest, this will make it possible to replace imports of products for 20 million USD per annum. The enterprise also intends to export goods worth 60 million USD.

In the future, the company plans to produce loaders, and from 2021 – electric cars.

The President paid special attention to the economic advantages of electric vehicles.

The total cost of this project, realized jointly with the Silk Road Company from China, is 30 million US dollars, including 24 million dollars of foreign investment.

Preliminary calculations showed that the estimated cost of this environmentally friendly mode of transport produced in the country will amount to 3 thousand dollars. Electric vehicles are important in conditions of limited availability of petroleum products.

The Head of the state examined samples of products manufactured on the territory of Kokand Free Economic Zone, talked with Fergana entrepreneurs.

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In Kokand Museum of Great Scholars, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has met with public figures of Fergana region, representatives of the senior generation and intelligentsia. The dialogue included topics of ongoing changes in the fields of culture and enlightenment, youth upbringing.

In Uzbekistan, special attention is paid to the veneration and promotion of national values, the study of the heritage of great ancestors. International festivals of the arts of bakhshi and maqom have been held in the country. The Imam Bukhari and Imam Termizi centers, Mirzo Ulugbek and Muhammad Khwarizmi schools of gifted children, creative schools named after writers have been established. Presidential schools as well as new higher education institutions are to create even greater opportunities for young people.

“Time flies by at a great speed. We are in search in every sphere, we are in constant movement. There are changes, but we are barely happy with them to the fullest”, the President said.

Participants noted with satisfaction that in Kokand, like throughout the Fergana region, extensive creative and construction works are underway today, and thanks to the International Festival of Handicrafters, the city has become even more attractive, while it has welcomed guests from all over the world.

The Museum of Great Scholars was also created at the initiative of the Head of the state. Its visitors are able to get information about the life and work of writers and scientists who lived in Kokand. And the exposition of antiques and handicrafts will tell about the lifestyle of those times.