Governors warned: Funds will be withdrawn if results are not delivered

At a videoconference meeting held today, June 16, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev warned regional governors that budgeted funds would be withdrawn if concrete results are not achieved. The meeting focused on evaluating the effectiveness of reforms, progress in regional development, and addressing public concerns.

The government has allocated 300 billion soums for infrastructure related to five key projects in each district—totaling 1,156 initiatives. However, construction has not yet started on 27 projects in Bukhara and 22 in Navoi. Delays of one to two months were also reported in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Fergana, and Tashkent regions.

In addition, 70 billion soums were allocated for the accelerated development of 16 districts. During the meeting, the governors of Chimboy, Asaka, and Chartak districts were sharply criticized for repeatedly changing their project proposals over the past three months, despite receiving 336 billion soums in funding. Syrdarya, Yakkabag districts, and the city of Yangiyul were also singled out for slow implementation. The President stressed that if there are no visible results, the allocated funds will be returned.

Furthermore, Agrostar companies have been launched in 16 districts with 300 billion soums invested to modernize fruit and vegetable cultivation, storage, and processing and to boost exports. Banks have already begun providing \$10 million in additional resources to each Agrostar. However, in five of these districts, fruit and vegetable exports have declined compared to last year.

“If all the necessary resources have been provided, when will Agrostar companies start producing results?” the President questioned.

Governors are also tasked with increasing food production and exports. Yet, significant portions of forest and pasture lands—critical for agriculture—remain under the control of republican organizations. Due to a lack of authority, local governors are unable to cultivate food products in underutilized forest lands.

It was revealed that out of 28 million hectares of pastures and forest lands (16 million and 12 million hectares respectively), only a fraction is being utilized effectively.

“With such vast resources, we can fully meet domestic demand for meat and even become an exporter,” President Mirziyoyev emphasized.

Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov was instructed to take charge of this issue. He must calculate how much forest and pasture land can be allocated to the population monthly for food and feed production and organize auctions for distribution. Additionally, he was tasked with resolving the working capital needs of farmers and livestock breeders who obtain these lands.

To combat inflation and incentivize transparency, the government recently approved a mechanism that refunds 50 percent of VAT as cashback for enterprises engaged in the production of meat, milk, poultry, and eggs. Officials were warned that cashback payments must not be delayed—even for a single day.

“I also warn the governors: under this new mechanism, the prices of meat, milk, poultry, and eggs must remain stable. Anyone who fails to maintain stability will be dismissed,” the President said.

The meeting also touched on systemic issues in the execution of court decisions. It was revealed that one in five court rulings submitted to the Public Enforcement Office last year remains unenforced, prompting further criticism of ineffective administration.