Economic Diversification as a Driver of Sustainable Regional Growth: Evidence from Oltiariq District (Fergana Region)
Keywords:
regional economy; economic diversification; structural transformation; intersectoral balance; processing industry; export structure; value-added chain; employment; investments; regional resilience.Abstract
This article examines how economic diversification supports regional growth and stability in Oltiariq District (Fergana Region, Uzbekistan). Using official secondary statistics for 2010–2025, we compute sectoral diversification indices from output shares and relate them to dynamics of growth, employment, and proxies of the local revenue base. Results indicate strong concentration in agriculture, while the industrial share remains comparatively low. Fruit-and-vegetable export dominance heightens exposure to logistics, storage, compliance, and external market shocks. We propose deep agro-processing, expansion of logistics and service infrastructure, and development of functional food and pharmaceutical value chains to raise value added and strengthen significantly overall resilience.
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