OMM Newsroom
Uzbekistan has launched 145 investment projects worth a total of $7.8 billion in Bukhara region. The projects aim to create more than 14,000 jobs, increase industrial output and exports, and spread economic growth beyond the capital, Tashkent. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the launch ceremony, AnewZ reported.
The ceremony took place on November 3. The program includes the commissioning of 55 facilities worth $654 million, as well as the start of construction on 90 new projects valued at $7.1 billion.
The investment program builds on Bukhara’s expanding industrial base. Over the past nine years, the region has attracted $9.5 billion in foreign investment, established nearly 6,000 manufacturing enterprises and created 120,000 permanent jobs.
The new projects are expected to expand the industrial base, strengthen the processing sector and increase export opportunities.
Energy and manufacturing projects
Bukhara is one of Uzbekistan’s main centers for the oil and gas industry. This base creates opportunities for new investment in processing and petrochemicals.
One of the largest projects is the $292 million expansion of the Tekhnochem petrochemical cluster. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The expansion will add 400,000 tonnes to annual processing capacity and create 700 jobs.
A $328 million modernization is also under way at the Bukhara Oil Refinery. The aim is to increase the facility’s annual processing capacity to 5 million tonnes and expand production of high-quality gasoline meeting Euro-5 standards, including AI-92 and AI-95 grades.
The refinery employs more than 3,200 people. It produced 1.36 million tonnes of petroleum products in the first nine months of 2026.
The investment program also includes projects beyond oil and gas. New wind power plants are planned. A waste-to-energy plant costing $165 million will be built in Kagan district to generate electricity from household waste.
A $400 million cotton and textile complex will be established in Romitan district to expand the existing textile industry.
Tourism and infrastructure projects
The investment program also includes tourism projects based on Bukhara’s historical heritage. The aim is to encourage tourists to stay longer in the region and attract international events.
A $105 million tourism center covering 50 hectares, or 0.5 square kilometers, is being developed. It will include hotels, a museum, an exhibition hall, family guesthouses, craft centers and a 2,000-seat amphitheater.
A $60 million congress hall and international hotel projects, including Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn, are also planned. The new facilities are intended to host conferences and major events, as well as expand the region’s tourism potential.
The program also includes upgrades to water supply and transport infrastructure. Two water projects with a combined value of $633 million are expected to improve water supply for about 2 million residents. Seven road projects worth $565 million aim to improve transport links and strengthen Bukhara’s role as a regional transit hub.
About 2.1 million people live in Bukhara region, which covers nearly 40,200 square kilometers. By comparison, Tashkent region has a population of about 3.8 million and an area of 15,300 square kilometers.
These figures reflect differences in population density between the two regions and the distinct pressures they face. The concentration of jobs, investment and services around the capital can increase pressure on housing, transport and public infrastructure. Expanding economic opportunities in other regions can make it easier for people to find work and start businesses closer to home.
Bukhara’s program aims to support this shift by drawing on the region’s energy resources, agricultural production, industrial enterprises and internationally recognized cultural heritage.
In addition to more than 14,000 jobs, the projects are expected to generate $510 million in export revenue and 22 trillion sum in industrial output. The key challenge will be turning planned investments into operating enterprises, sustained employment and long-term economic growth.
If successfully implemented, the projects could strengthen Bukhara’s position as an industrial, tourism and business center and contribute to more geographically balanced economic development in Uzbekistan.
