Navoiy Region
Navoiy Region is one of the regions of Uzbekistan. It is located in the central north/northwest of the country. It covers an area of , which makes it the largest of the regions of Uzbekistan. The Navoiy region borders with Kazakhstan, Samarqand Region, Buxoro Region, Jizzakh Region, and the Karakalpakstan Republic. The population is estimated to be 1,033,857 in 2022, with 51% living in rural areas. The capital is Navoiy. The region and its capital are named after the poet Ali-Shir Nava'i.
The climate is a typically semi-desert continental climate. Navoiy region has significant natural resources, especially natural gas, petroleum, and precious metals, plus raw materials for construction. The region's economy is heavily dependent on large mining, metallurgical and chemical production complexes. The Navoi and Zarafshan mines produce some of the world's purest gold.
Leading agricultural products are cotton and Karakul sheep. Some 90% of the entire area is considered potentially rich agricultural land, if a source of water for irrigation can be located.
Administrative divisions
The Navoiy Region consists of 8 districts and 3 district-level cities: Navoiy, Zarafshon and Gʻozgʻon.There are 7 cities and 46 urban-type settlements in Navoiy Region.
Economy
Navoiy Region is located in the central part of Uzbekistan, being one of the largest industrial centres of the country. The region possesses rich minerals and raw materials resources – Muruntau [gold deposit|Muruntau gold-bearing field], silica sand fields, deposits of granite, marble, phosphorites and many others.Navoiy Mining and Metallurgy Combinat – the biggest enterprise of the region, is included in top ten largest world producers of uranium and gold. Gold bars produced by the Combinat are awarded with the status of “optimal gold delivery” by London Precious Metals Market and Tokyo Commodities Exchange. Along with mining, the region’s economy is based on production of building materials, chemical, textile and food industries.
40 foreign investment enterprises operate in Navoiy Region. Most of them are established with participation of investors from China, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The Uzbek–British Joint Venture "Amantaytau-Goldfields" does work in the region.
In 2019 the entire region was made a "free economic zone" by presidential decree.