Sokh district to receive $100 million boost for tourism and high-tech agriculture

While recent efforts have already led to the creation of nearly 14,000 jobs and the lifting of 1,667 families out of poverty, challenges remain. Sokh’s poverty rate stands at 7.9% and unemployment at 5.5%, both of which are above the national average. To counter this, officials have outlined a plan to attract $40 million in investment and generate $15 million in exports this year alone. These initiatives are expected to boost industrial growth by 9%, services by 17.1%, and agriculture by 7.6%.

A significant portion of the growth strategy focuses on Sokh’s unique natural landscape. Authorities aim to attract $60 million in tourism and services investment by developing facilities along the Sokh River, particularly in the Sarikand, Ravon, and Istiklol neighborhoods. Furthermore, the district is slated to become a medical services cluster, encompassing rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and pharmaceutical logistics. These service-sector efforts are projected to create 2,000 jobs and raise the value of local tourism services to UZS 15 billion.

Agriculture remains the backbone of household income in Sokh, and the government is introducing modern technologies to maximize land use. Key projects include establishing orchards on 425 hectares of pastureland in Kayrak, planting saffron on 60 hectares in Chashma, and developing a massive fish farming project in Navabad capable of producing 50 tons of trout per reservoir. An 8-kilometer gravity-fed irrigation network will also be constructed to bring an additional 800 hectares of land into productive use for orchards and crops.

To support these macro-projects at the local level, 300 microprojects will be launched across Sokh’s neighborhoods. Banks have been instructed to allocate UZS 64 billion in loans for these initiatives, complemented by UZS 74.5 billion for social infrastructure. President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the ultimate goal of the Sokh revamp is to raise living standards, increase incomes, and ensure that the district is no longer hindered by its geographical isolation.