President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has chaired a meeting in the Andijan region hokimiyat (governor’s office) with provincial and national level officials and public figures.

Large-scale changes have been taking place in Andijan region like in all areas of the country. In particular, last year the gross regional product of the region grew by 12 percent, the volume of investments increased by 19 percent. Growth was recorded also in the first quarter of this year.

It was noted that the region still offers ample opportunities, and its economy remains non-diversified. Thus, 80 percent of the province’s industry is made up of that of Asaka district and the city of Andijan. Most of the economically active population is unemployed, the volume of per capita services is insufficient.

In this regard, an investment program has been developed comprising 908 projects worth 25 trillion 181 billion soums, which will be implemented in the Andijan region in 2019-2020. These schemes envisage the development of foreign direct investments in the amount of 1.7 billion US dollars and the creation of over 35 thousand jobs.

In addition, the task was set to identify families wishing to engage in entrepreneurship and allocate them 420 billion soums of soft loans under the program “Every family entrepreneur”.

Special attention at the meeting was paid to the development of the social sphere. It was reported that this year, the city of Andijan will see the construction of 14 high-rise affordable houses and many more from private developers, and 224 individual and 56 apartment buildings will be available in the countryside.

The President stressed that the growing population of the region requires the expansion of housing construction and the creation of even more jobs, the organization of additional social and public services, for which the heads of ministries and the region must work tirelessly, with an eye to the long term effect.