Tashkent region targets 16.5 million tourists with massive infrastructure investment

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a high-level meeting on April 8 to review the effectiveness of ongoing reforms in the Tashkent region and outline strategic priorities for its future development. The ambitious roadmap includes the establishment of a massive international medical hub, a technology center for foreign IT firms, and the expansion of the region’s tourism infrastructure.

Photo: Presidential press service

A primary highlight of the social development plan is the construction of "Tashkent Medical Smart City." This international innovation medical campus, valued at $5 billion, will span 400 hectares in the Yuqorichirchik district. Additionally, Nurafshon is set to host a new Center for Future Technologies. The $35.4 million project aims to attract over 100 foreign IT companies and boost service exports to $20 million annually. The provincial center will also see the development of a 670–bed multidisciplinary medical cluster and a new state archive.

Building on the international success of the Amirsoy and Beldersay resorts, the President directed officials to replicate these tourism models in the mountainous areas of Parkent, Gazalkent, Akhangaran, and Angren. Specifically, a new ski zone featuring hotels and chalet-style housing will be developed at the "Oltin Bel" peak in Parkent. Furthermore, eco-tourism and hunting sites are planned for the Bekabad district, while new tourist villages will be established in Lashkarak and Yangiabad. These initiatives aim to increase the region's total accommodation capacity to 35.5 thousand beds and attract 16.5 million tourists, with a target of $600 million in tourism service exports.

Infrastructure remains a critical focus of the regional overhaul. A total of 956 billion UZS has been allocated to 231 projects in underdeveloped districts and neighborhoods designated for the "New Uzbekistan" transformation. This funding will facilitate the centralized water supply for 39 neighborhoods and the reconstruction of 166.7 kilometers of water networks in another 81 communities. Power grid reliability will also be improved through the replacement of 121 outdated transformers and 443.6 kilometers of electrical lines across 145 neighborhoods.

Concluding the session, President Mirziyoyev tasked the regional reform headquarters with leveraging the province's full potential to create new jobs and increase household incomes. The ultimate objective is to transform the Tashkent region into a territory free from poverty and unemployment, serving as a benchmark for development for the rest of the country.