TASHKENT, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese technology is driving industrial transformation and injecting strong momentum into economic development in Uzbekistan's Namangan Region, Governor Shavkat Abdurazakov has said.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Abdurazakov said that Namangan is deepening practical cooperation with China across the board, with more than 70 joint projects underway in infrastructure, construction materials, green energy and other key sectors.
Agriculture and textiles are among Namangan Region's pillar industries. Its capital, Namangan city, known as the "city of flowers," is one of Uzbekistan's major exporters of finished textile products.
Abdurazakov said that scaling up the adoption of agricultural technology and advancing agro-industrialization remain top priorities for the region's development.
In recent years, Namangan Region has widely adopted cotton cultivation techniques, improved seeds and specialized fertilizers from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, resulting in a substantial increase in cotton yields per hectare, he said. "This represents a major breakthrough in our agricultural sector."
Local farms are expanding the cultivation of lavender and other high-value aromatic crops, extending the agricultural supply chain into pharmaceuticals, perfumery and eco-tourism, he added.
On industrial and infrastructure cooperation, Abdurazakov said the first unit of a 500-megawatt solar power project, constructed by a Chinese enterprise in the region, was successfully connected to the grid in December 2024.
The project has significantly alleviated power shortages in local industrial zones, he noted.
Highlighting Namangan's strategic position connecting Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, with the densely populated Fergana Valley in Central Asia, Abdurazakov emphasized the region's active integration into regional connectivity initiatives, particularly the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
"The railway will not only expand Namangan's export footprint but also facilitate its integration into the broader regional market of the Fergana Valley," he said.
Abdurazakov said that Chinese enterprises have brought cutting-edge technologies and valuable development experience to Namangan while creating jobs for local people.
Namangan looks forward to further deepening cooperation with Chinese companies and local authorities to share development opportunities and achieve mutual benefits, the governor added. ■
