Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has directed officials in the Andijan region to establish a free trade and industrial zone near the border with Kyrgyzstan, according to the president’s spokesperson, Sherzod Asadov.
Mirziyoyev noted that the Andijan region exports approximately $200 million worth of goods annually to neighboring Kyrgyzstan. In light of this, he said it would be practical to create specialized zones to further expand trade flows.
The president suggested Kurghontepa and Khojaabad as possible sites for the new zone. Regional authorities have been tasked with selecting one of these locations and developing a master plan for the project, in consultation with local entrepreneurs.
Attention was also drawn to issues at the Dustlik border checkpoint in Khojaabad District, where residents and transport operators have raised concerns over long queues. Mirziyoyev instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to urgently identify the causes of the congestion and devise a solution.
He also emphasized that the planned construction of the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–China railway would significantly boost trade with neighboring countries. The project is expected to shorten transportation times by an average of one week and reduce travel distance by 1,000 kilometers. Freight volumes could increase tenfold under such conditions.
“But how prepared are our domestic railway networks, customs checkpoints, and stations to handle and process this cargo?” Mirziyoyev asked.
He instructed officials to carry out the necessary calculations and prepare an action plan.
On the subject of international cooperation, the president also highlighted opportunities in the education sector. He noted that many citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, and India are eager to study in Uzbekistan, particularly at the Andijan State Medical Institute. He estimated that the export value of educational services could reach $20 million per year. In response, he called for the introduction of a student visa system and gave the relevant agencies one month to develop proposals for special entry permits.
Mirziyoyev added that since some 2,000 students from Namangan are currently studying in Andijan, the medical faculty of Namangan State University will become a branch of the Andijan institute. Eventually, it will be upgraded to the status of an independent university.
