Navoi, Uzbekistan

Navoi, Uzbekistan

Navoi is the real oasis in the steppe. It is the youngest city of the country. Its construction was started by the Government Decree in 1958. It was named after the great Uzbek poet, scientist and state figure Alisher Navoi. The city has economic importance and is the large industrial center of the western part of Uzbekistan. The city became, as it were, the outpost of desert development.

Though the city is very young, this area and surroundings of current Navoi has rich history. In ancient times the Great Silk Road passed through these lands. Also findings of numerous traces of Ancient Saki, Khorezm, Baktriya cultures resulted from archeological researches of the area.

45 kilometers from Navoi there is the Sarmish Gorge – “the biggest stone mural gallery in the world”. On the area of two kilometers length you will find almost four thousands petroglyphs of various periods. astronauts”. Moreover, from time to time, anomalous phenomena occur in the mysterious gorge of Sarmish, and therefore this area attracts researchers of UFO centers.

Today Navoi city is one of the leading industrial centers of Uzbekistan. It has Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat, producing gold, JSC “Navoiazot”, specializing on production of mineral fertilizers, ammonia and artificial Nitron Fiber, electrochemical plant. In addition, Navoi has Navoi Hydropower station, the largest in Uzbekistan JSC “Kyzylkumcement” and many others industrial projects of republican importance.

The city has perfect location: it is located 347 meters above the sea level, on the left bank of Zarafshan river and 100 km to north-west from Bukhara. Navoi numbers over 160 000 people: Uzbeks (73,2%), Russians (16.5%), Kazakhs (1,3%) other nationalities (9%).

In addition, Navoi recently has become the first full-fledged free economic zone in CIS – the FIEZ (Free Industrial-Economic Zone).

Navoiy Region has large stocks of natural gas and deposits of precious metals, as well as large stocks of raw materials for production of construction materials. Among enterprises there are Navoi and Zarafshan Gold Mining and Metallurgical Complexes, which extract one of the purest golds in the world. The enterprise NavoiyAzot is the largest producer of mineral fertilizers in the country.

Navoiy Free Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ)

The Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ) with special conditions for foreign investments was created in Navoi Region of Uzbekistan, nearby Navoi International Airport. It is due to operate for 30 years.

Businesses in FIEZ enjoy favourable customs, currency and tax regulations and simplified procedures for entry, stay and obtaining of work permit for non-resident citizens. They are exempt from taxes for a period depending on the amount of direct investments:

from 3 to 10 million dollars – for 7 years;

from 10 to 30 million dollars – for 10 years, with reduction of profit and unified tax payment rates by 50% in the next 5 years;

more than 30 million dollars – for 15 years, with reduction of profit and unified tax payment rates by 50% in the next 10 years.

Along with this, business entities will be exempted from paying customs duties (excluding charges for customs clearance) for equipment, raw materials and components imported for the production of export oriented goods. They will be able to make payments in foreign currency within the FIEZ, as well as to use convenient terms of payments for exported and imported goods.

Management of the FIEZ will be by an Administrative Council which may select an international company to manage the zone on a contract basis. A FIEZ development fund aimed to support infrastructure development is also planned.

13 joint ventures operate in Navoi FIEZ which produce car components, ADSL modems, LED lamps, cosmetics, diapers, and other products.[2]

Transportation

The Zone will be located at a distance of 800 meters from the highway E-40, 1,8 km from the cargo terminal of Navoiy Airport, connected to international railway routes towards countries of Europe (via Russia), South Asia (via China), Middle East and the Gulf (via Iran). The distance to the nearest water and gas distribution centres is 800 m, electrical station – 8 km.