DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 1. In the last five years, 680 industrial enterprises and factories have been established in the Sughd region of Tajikistan, creating thousands of new jobs, President Emomali Rahmon said following the groundbreaking ceremony for the iron ore enrichment plant in the Bobojon Ghafurov district, Trend reports via the president’s press service.
Rahmon highlighted that during this period, industrial production in the region has steadily increased, reaching 30.4 billion somoni ($2.7 billion) in 2024, double the figure recorded in 2020.
However, he emphasized that despite these positive trends, the current figures are still insufficient to meet the country's ambitious goals of rapid industrialization and providing productive employment opportunities for the population.
To address this, Rahmon directed the executive bodies of the region and its cities and districts, along with the ministries of industry and new technologies, agriculture, and other relevant authorities, to take all necessary measures to produce competitive, high-value-added products.
President also noted that the region’s export potential, particularly in finished products, has yet to be fully realized. He issued specific instructions for the development of the mining industry, the launch of new production capacities, the creation of jobs, and the production of export-oriented goods.
Earlier, the first stone was laid for the construction of the iron ore enrichment plant in the Bobojon Gafurov district. The plant will be built with both domestic and foreign investments and will be equipped with modern technologies for extracting and processing iron ore and other associated minerals, as well as for the production and export of high-quality products. The ore reserves at the site are estimated at approximately 60 million tons.
Construction will take place in two phases: the first phase is expected to be completed by 2027, with the second phase set to conclude by 2031. The plant’s projected annual capacity will be 2.5 million tons of ore, producing 1.1 million tons of concentrate. The iron content in the ore is expected to range from 62 percent to 65 percent, with additional black and non-ferrous metals also being extracted.
