Uzbekistan has launched 145 investment projects worth $7.8 billion in its Bukhara region, aiming to create more than 14,000 jobs, boost industrial production and exports, and drive economic growth beyond the capital, Tashkent.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the launch ceremony on 3 November. The programme includes 55 facilities worth $654 million that are being brought into operation, alongside 90 new projects valued at $7.1 billion on which construction is beginning.
The investment drive builds on Bukhara’s growing industrial base and aims to unlock further economic potential.Over the past nine years, the region has attracted $9.5 billion in foreign investment, established around 6,000 production enterprises and created 120,000 permanent jobs.
The latest projects are designed to expand this industrial base, strengthen manufacturing and open up new export opportunities.
Bukhara is already a major centre for Uzbekistan’s oil and gas industry, providing a strong foundation for investment in processing and petrochemicals.
Among the largest developments is a $292 million expansion of the Tekhnochem petrochemical cluster, scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The project will add 400,000 tonnes of annual processing capacity and create 700 jobs.
The Bukhara Oil Refinery is also undergoing a planned $328 million modernisation aimed at increasing its annual processing capacity to five million tonnes and boosting output of higher-quality petrol, including AI-92 and AI-95 grades that meet Euro-5 standards.
The refinery employs more than 3,200 people and produced 1.36 million tonnes of petroleum products in the first nine months of 2026.
The investment push extends beyond oil and gas. New wind power facilities are planned, while a $165 million waste-to-energy plant in Kagan district will convert household waste into electricity.
Manufacturing is also set for a boost, with a $400 million cotton and textile complex planned in Romitan district to expand the region’s existing textile industry.
Bukhara’s historic appeal is also central to the investment programme, with new tourism projects aimed at encouraging longer stays and attracting international events.
A $105 million tourism centre covering 50 hectares (0.5 square kilometres) is being developed, featuring hotels, a museum, an exhibition hall, family guest houses, craft centres and a 2,000-seat amphitheatre.
A $60 million congress hall is also planned, alongside international hotels, including Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn. The new facilities are intended to attract conferences and major events while broadening the region’s tourism offering.
Beyond tourism, the programme includes major upgrades to water supplies and transport infrastructure.
Two water projects worth $633 million are expected to improve supplies for around two million residents, while seven road projects valued at $565 million aim to improve connectivity and strengthen Bukhara’s role as a regional transit hub.
Bukhara region is home to around 2.1 million people across approximately 40,200 square kilometres. By comparison, Tashkent region has around 3.8 million residents in an area of roughly 15,300 square kilometres.
The figures highlight a sharp contrast in population density and the different pressures facing the two regions.
Concentrating jobs, investment and services around the capital can place growing strain on housing, transport and public infrastructure. Expanding economic opportunities elsewhere could help ease that pressure by allowing more people to find work and establish businesses closer to home.
Bukhara’s investment programme is intended to support that shift, drawing on the region’s energy resources, agricultural production, industrial facilities and internationally recognised cultural heritage.
Alongside the projected 14,000-plus jobs, the projects are expected to generate $510 million in exports and industrial output worth 22 trillion soums.
The key test will be whether the planned investments translate into functioning businesses, lasting employment and sustained economic growth.
If successfully implemented, the programme could strengthen Bukhara’s position as a major industrial, tourism and business centre, helping Uzbekistan build a more geographically balanced economy.
Uzbekistan has launched 145 investment projects worth $7.8 billion in its Bukhara region, aiming to create more than 14,000 jobs, boost industrial ...
Kazakhstan plans to manufacture 494 types of medicines through eight major investment projects worth a combined $862 million, Health Minister Akmar...
Montenegro has moved a step closer to becoming the European Union's next member, with Brussels signalling that the Balkan country could join by...
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
From international reporting and investigative documentaries to global forums and digital innovation, AnewZ marks two years of connecting Azerbaijan and the wider world.
Democrat wins surged on Tuesday across the United States with stunning victories in the South Carolina, Texas and Ohio senate races -- traditionally Republican strongholds -- in the 3 November midterm elections.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
A century-old collection of postcards is bringing the human stories behind Azerbaijan's oil boom to life in a new documentary produced by AnewZ in partnership with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).
A new book examining Azerbaijan’s military strategy, technology and operations during the Garabagh wars has been unveiled in Baku, offering insights into the country’s victories and lessons for modern warfare.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Tajikistan has banned electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems, becoming the latest Central Asian country to outlaw their production, import and sale as part of a wider push to protect public health.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment