Uzbekistan plans to attract $3.5 billion in investment to the Kashkadarya region this year. The announcement was made during the meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focused on the priority tasks for the comprehensive development of the region.

It was noted that over the past five months, investment volumes in the Koson, Kitob, and Chirakchi districts have nearly doubled.

At the same time, 12 of the regionʼs mineral deposits remain untouched by industrial development. Currently, 16 projects worth $150 million have been prepared in the construction materials sector. Officials have been instructed to put the relevant deposits up for auction.

A 100-hectare site in Kitob has been identified as containing reserves of 20 tonnes of gold. Many potential investors have expressed interest in committing $100–150 million to extract the gold using closed (non-invasive) methods that do not harm the environment. It was emphasized that this deposit should also be offered at auction.

Additionally, five more promising sites in Kitob are estimated to contain 39 tonnes of gold, while Chirakchi holds resources of 10,000 tonnes of rare metals. Geological exploration work has been ordered to begin at these areas.

An innovation-driven industrial zone will be established on a 200-hectare site near the Mubarek Gas Processing Plant, which already has existing infrastructure and a railway line passing through.

Within this industrial zone, five major projects will be launched under a cluster-based model, focusing on petrochemicals, electrical engineering, robotics, and construction materials.

Although Kashkadarya is a leading cotton producer, its share in the textile industry is less than 10%. Currently, only 28% of the regionʼs 100,000 tonnes of yarn is being processed.

To address this, 12 projects worth $200 million are planned within a new technopark established on 40 hectares in Koson. However, progress has stalled due to the absence of a wastewater treatment facility and sewerage system. Officials have been instructed to allocate funds for the technoparkʼs infrastructure.

In total, 35 projects worth $400 million are scheduled to launch, with the goal of increasing yarn processing to 51% this year and reaching 100% by next year.