Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has unveiled about 30 billion dollars in initiatives for the Bukhara region during his November 3 visit.
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has unveiled about 30 billion dollars in initiatives for the Bukhara region during his November 3 visit.
The headline projects: a new 300 million dollar international airport for Bukhara, due by Independence Day, with a 24 km road to the city centre. A modern Samarkand to Bukhara toll road, cutting the journey to about an hour and a half. And a 328 million dollar refinery upgrade, doubling capacity to 5 million tons a year.
Tourism gets its own cluster: an 80 million dollar centre plus a 60 million dollar congress centre, tying together the old city, the Seven Pirs, Chor Bakr, Paykent and Varakhsha. The region expects 3.5 million foreign visitors this year and aims to double that number. Central drinking water coverage is to rise from 80 to 95 percent.
Why it matters: this is Uzbekistan spreading its boom beyond Tashkent. Bukhara is being built as a destination and an industrial hub at the same time, and the deadlines, especially the airport, will be the first real