Navoi region

Navoi region was formed in 1982 from parts of Bukhara and Samarkand regions (abolished in 1988 and restored in 1992), so it is among the youngest regions of the country. By area it is second only to the Republic of Karakalpakstan, while its population is among the smallest of the regions. Population is uneven: it is very sparse in the Tamdy, Uchkuduk and Konimex districts. Industrial growth is raising the urban population quickly. In agriculture, grain, cotton and desert livestock, especially karakul sheep, matter; Tamdy district stands out for its many karakul farms. The main branches of industry are power generation, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemicals and building materials. The Navoi thermal power station is among the country’s largest sources of electricity; the chemical industry relies on natural gas and mineral raw materials, with its centre at the chemical plant in the city of Navoi. The Navoi cement plant uses raw materials such as tuff found nearby and provides a large share of the country’s cement. Gold is mined at Muruntau, and the Navoi mining and metallurgical combine has a major place in the national economy. The Navoi free industrial-economic zone was set up beside the international airport, with tax and customs benefits, to develop manufacturing and logistics. The city of Navoi is the regional centre, a young industrial and transport node near the Zarafshan River, built in the mid-20th century to a master plan; Zarafshan city appeared in 1972 on the basis of the Muruntau deposits. The region holds historic sites such as Karmana, Rabat Malik, monuments in Nurata and the Kasim-Sheikh mausoleum.