Uzbekistan to allocate $48 million for projects in Dzizak
By Aynur Jafarova
The Uzbek government will allocate $48 million for the implementation of 17 projects in the transport, industrial, engineering and communication sectors in the Dzizak special industrial zone in 2013-2018, including around $28.9 million in 2013-2015.
According to the regulations of the country's Cabinet of Ministers on 'measures on accelerated development of the transport, industrial and engineering infrastructure of the Dzizak special industrial zone', it is planned to implement five projects worth $20.335 million for the development of roads, three projects worth $2.256 million to develop railway infrastructure and five projects worth $24.803 million to improve water supply, irrigation and drainage.
Also, four projects worth $0.918 million will be implemented for the development of the electric power and gas supply sector.
Some $21.372 million will be allocated from the state budget, $2.946 million from self-funded enterprises and $4.597 million by international financial institutions for financing the program for 2013-2015.
The Dzizak special industrial zone was established in March 2012 in accordance with a decree signed by Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
Launching the Dzizak industrial zone, which will have a branch in Syr Darya province, envisages effective utilization of the production and resource potential of Dzizak and Syr Darya provinces, creation of new jobs and increasing the income of the population.
The activity of the Dzizak special industrial zone mainly aims to attract direct investments for launching high-tech and innovative production in order to produce competitive goods for domestic and foreign markets.
The decree envisages localizing the production of high-tech goods on the basis of domestic raw materials, providing for effective use of transport, engineering, communication and social infrastructure in the Dzizak special industrial zone.
The Dzizak industrial zone is to be in operation for 30 years with a possibility of further extension. During this period special tax regulations and customs benefits will be provided depending on the volume of investment.
The Dzizak province is located in the center of Uzbekistan, 200 kilometers from the capital Tashkent. Agriculture is developed in the province. Construction materials are the main goods of the local industrial sector.
Currently, two industrial zones, Navoi free industrial and economic zone, opened in December 2008, and Angren special industrial zone, launched in April 2012, operate in the Central Asian state.