On February 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting to define priority tasks for the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
It was noted that due to its vast territory and mineral reserves, Karakalpakstan has considerable economic and investment potential.
Tangible changes have taken place in Karakalpakstan’s economy in recent years. Eight years ago, the region’s economy ranked last in Uzbekistan in per capita terms, and today it has risen to seventh place. Whereas only 4 percent of industrial output was previously exported, this figure has now reached 30 percent. Compared to 2016, Karakalpakstan’s exports have increased 3.5-fold, amounting to $2.1 billion.
Over the next five years, it is planned to expand Karakalpakstan’s economy to 102.5 trillion soums (54.3 trillion soums in 2025) and implement projects worth $7.2 billion in the industrial and service sectors.
The importance of utilizing all opportunities to increase exports to $900 million was emphasized (in 2025, this figure was $435 million).
By the end of this year, it is planned to reduce the unemployment rate in Karakalpakstan to 4.2 percent, the poverty rate to 3.2 percent, and to transform the city of Nukus, the Kungrad and Chimbay districts, and 109 mahallas into territories free from unemployment and poverty.
The goal has been set to increase the volume of foreign direct investment in Karakalpakstan 2.5-fold from $3.5 billion in 2025.
A tourist and recreational zone will be created in the area of the Barsakelmes salt deposit, and glamping sites will be developed in areas resembling a Martian landscape in the Aral Sea region and on the Ustyurt Plateau. The Aral Sea History Museum will be modernized using modern technologies to demonstrate to the international community the consequences of the sea’s desiccation. Through these measures, the task has been set to attract 500,000 foreign and 3 million local tourists to Karakalpakstan this year.
The task was also set to establish an Aral Logistics Center in Kungrad with a “dry port” status, meeting international standards, by the end of 2027.
