DUSHANBE, 03.07.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held a meeting on the social and economic development of Sughd Province in the National Vahdat Garden.

The discussion focused on the measures being taken to deal with the problems created in healthcare and the economy by the spread of COVID-19. Other issues discussed included the 30th anniversary of independence, industrial development, targeted use of state budget resources, rational use of agricultural lands, crime prevention, heating season and other matters.

President Emomali Rahmon underlined that the government has taken urgent and timely measures against the pandemic, but its negative consequences have also affected the economic and social life of the people of Sughd region.

He noted that the signed executive order on mitigating the effects of Covid-19 on the economy was welcomed by the population, managers and employees of state-owned enterprises and non-state enterprises, entrepreneurs, and its effective implementation has yielded fruitful results, and was able to quickly prevent the spread of this dangerous disease.

In connection with the creative plans for the 30th anniversary of state independence, the State Committee on Investments and State-Owned Property Management, Executive Bodies of State Authorities of the region and its cities and districts have been instructed to monitor the quality and timeliness of implementation of public investment projects. Taking into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the national economy, he noted the necessity of attracting more domestic and foreign direct investments, increasing production and exports and creating new jobs.

President Emomali Rahmon also drew the attention of those attending to Sughd’s industrial development and emphasizing that in the past five months of 2020, 29 enterprises with 370 new jobs have been established, including ten food processing industry, five sewing enterprises, and ten enterprises for producing construction materials.

Although this indicator brings the share of Sughd in the volume of industrial production of the country to 51% and its grow at a rate of 18%, in comparison with the opportunities and resources of the region, these indicators are insignificant.

According to President Emomali Rahmon, with such indicators it will be difficult to achieve the fourth strategic goal, — the rapid industrialization of the country. So it is necessary to take additional measures to ensure the smooth operation of the manufacturing sector.

He also touched upon the issue of rational use of land and ensuring food security, especially in the context of the pandemic and food import restrictions.

The region’s officials were instructed to work on the effective use of existing lands, including household and auxiliary plots, especially presidential lands, re-sowing, creation of greenhouses and improving land use.

In connection with the state of health care, it was noted that in the past five months of this year in the territory of Sughd region 123 health care facilities have been put into operation, and the plan for 2021 includes opening 60 more health facilities. Currently, there are 1114 health facilities in the region, including 1073 public medical institutions and 41 private institutions.

«The leadership of region and its cities and districts need to take urgent measures to attract domestic and foreign investment to build and to reconstruct damaged health care facilities and equip them with state-of-the-art medical technology and improve the quality of medical services. In addition, officials must closely monitor the target addresses for expenditures of humanitarian aid, the provision of medical facilities with medical equipment, medicines and antiseptic,» said President Emomali Rahmon .

At the end of his speech, he stressed that the protection of the achievements of the country’s independence, especially in the context of the rapidly changing world, requires every citizen, especially the youth, to focus their physical and mental energy toward the protection of the most sacred achievement of our people, — independence and freedom, strengthening the foundations of national statehood, creativity and development of our beloved homeland.

While delivered his speech, the Chairman of Sughd Rajabboy Ahmadzoda noted that a commission has been established in order to increase domestic and foreign investment in key sectors of the economy, and it is planned that by the celebration of the 30th anniversary of state independence 300 more small and large-scale manufacturing enterprises will be built in the region.

President Emomali Rahmon instructed Rajabboy Ahmadzoda to firmly monitor the process of construction of all facilities, especially infectious diseases hospitals in each city and district and prepare existing   health centers for the second wave of COVID-19.