THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES OF THE UZBEKISTAN SSR IN ECONOMIC LIFE

Аннотация

This article highlights the role and significance of industrial enterprises of the Uzbek SSR in economic life. Keywords: non-consumable, large state industrial enterprise, cheap energy resources, self-sufficiency, chemical industry, textile industry, building materials, technological modernization. Industrial enterprises of the Uzbek SSR played a central role in the development of the republic's economy during the Soviet era. While Uzbekistan was historically an agrarian region, the industrialization policy of the Soviet Union turned it into one of the most important industrial centers of Central Asia. Industrial enterprises became the driving force of the economic growth of the Uzbek SSR. The main sectors include: First, the chemical industry (especially fertilizers and plastics); Second, textile and cotton processing; Third, metallurgy and machine-building production; Fourth, the food and building materials industry. These sectors helped diversify the economy and reduce dependence on the export of agricultural raw materials. The rapid development of industry created hundreds of thousands of jobs, helped reduce unemployment and increase labor productivity. Many enterprises offered technical education and vocational training, which contributed to the formation of qualified personnel. Chemical plants produced fertilizers and pesticides to increase cotton and wheat yields. Machine-building plants built tractors, irrigation systems, and harvesting equipment. Food processing plants improved the storage and distribution of agricultural products. Large industrial zones led to the growth of urban centers such as Tashkent, Chirchik, Fergana, Angren, and Navoi. In the period 1950–1954, industrial development in the Uzbek SSR both grew rapidly and faced serious problems. Although new plants and factories were built in various regions, including in the chemical, textile, and food industries, many enterprises had difficulty maintaining stable product quality. “In 1950–1954, products worth 1.422 million rubles of products manufactured by district and city industrial enterprises were found to be of poor quality or completely unfit for consumption” . Outdated equipment and lack of proper maintenance led to production defects. Inadequate training of workers and 165 SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY International scientific-online conference engineers reduced the ability to control quality standards. Pressure to meet central quotas often forced managers to ignore deficiencies in order to meet planned production targets. Insufficient or low-grade raw materials further affected the quality of the final product. Food processing, where products did not meet hygiene standards. Chemical products, including fertilizers or household chemicals, did not meet safety or efficiency criteria. Light industry, where textiles and consumer goods were rejected due to defects or non- compliance with technical specifications. Despite these failures, the state took a number of measures to address the problem: First, quality control inspections were strengthened; Second, managers of failing enterprises were held accountable and sometimes punished; Third, training programs were developed to improve the technical skills of workers. The findings from this period reflect a broader pattern in Soviet industrial planning—rapid expansion often came at the cost of durability, reliability, and consumer safety. In the long run, these quality problems led to inefficiency and waste, weakening the economic potential of the industrial sector. “Over 125 large state-owned industrial enterprises were launched in Uzbekistan between 1961 and 1970” . Chemical industry – includes fertilizer plants, chemical processing plants, and laboratories. Textile industry – to support the processing of cotton, Uzbekistan's most important crop. Building materials – such as cement and brick factories, to support urban growth. Food processing – includes canning and meat factories to ensure a stable food supply. Metallurgy and mechanical engineering – factories that produce tools, equipment, and metal products. This industrial expansion had a major impact in the following areas: First, increased employment for thousands of skilled and unskilled workers; Second, urbanization, as rural residents migrated to cities for industrial jobs; 166 SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY International scientific-online conference Third, technological modernization, the introduction of Soviet-designed equipment and production lines; Fourth, the extensive integration of the Uzbek economy into the All-Union supply and production sectors. These developments paved the way for further cooperation in industry and agriculture. Many new chemical plants, such as those producing fertilizers and pesticides, supported large-scale farming operations, especially cotton cultivation. Despite these achievements, problems with product quality, infrastructure, and excessive central