Turkistan Region, previously South Kazakhstan Region, is the southernmost region of Kazakhstan. Population: Its capital is Turkistan. Other cities in South Kazakhstan include Sayram, Kentau, Arys, Shardara, Zhetisay, Saryagash, and Lenger. This region and Atyrau Region are Kazakhstan's two smallest regions; both are about 117,300 square kilometers in area. South Kazakhstan borders the neighboring country of Uzbekistan, as well as three other Kazakhstan regions: Karaganda Region, Kyzylorda Region, and Jambyl Region. The Syr Darya passes through the region, on its way to the Aral Sea. Also, an oil pipeline runs from Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan to Omsk, Russia through South Kazakhstan. Oil, lead and zinc are refined in Shymkent. The Region was originally formed in the Kazakh SSR within the Soviet Union by the name South Kazakhstan Oblast. In 1962, it was renamed Chimkent Oblast, but this only lasted until 1992, when it was changed back to the old name. In 2018, it was changed to Turkistan Oblast, which is the current name. The administrative center of the region was Shymkent until 19 June 2018, when it was taken out of the region and subordinated directly to the central government. The administrative center was moved to Turkistan, and the region renamed Turkistan Region.
Demographics
The South Kazakhstan Region is the most densely populated of Kazakhstan's many regions. This derives from the oblast's gentler climate, better irrigation infrastructure, and proximity to historical population centers. It is also the fastest growing of Kazakhstan's regions, due to two main factors. One is the birthrate among traditional Kazakh and Uzbek families, where families of five to eight children are commonplace. The other is the exodus of cheap migrant labor from northern Uzbekistan. These migrant workers sometimes become full-fledged immigrants, and if they are ethnic Kazakhs this process is easily green-lighted through local governments for an fee. As such, South Kazakhstan Region is the only region with a demographic breakdown where ethnic Russians are not in the first or second most populous categories. Census results are old and made using Soviet methods that served propaganda over accuracy, but they still point to Kazakhs being the most populous, closely followed by Uzbeks, with Russians bringing in a distant third. The population of South Kazakhstan Region, despite the obvious numerical prevalence of Kazakhs, differs a considerable ethnolanguage variety. So in the area population it is traditionally wide the Uzbeks making a considerable part of the population of some cities and areas of area are presented, live Russians, Tajiks, Koreans, Kurds live also.
Historically speaking, South Kazakhstan Region is home to Kazakhstan's oldest and greatest marvels. Two thousandyears ago it was part of the northern border of the Persian Empire. It owes its long history of habitation to a mixing of Persian culture and science with the native Turkic/Mongol tribal clans. South Kazakhstan Region was part of the Satrap of Sogdiana. Some places of historical interest include the cities of Turkestan, Otrar and Sayram. Sayram was the birthplace of Ahmed Yasavi, a great Sufic scholar and author that lived and worked throughout Central Asia. He is entombed in a mausoleum complex that stands in present-day Turkestan, and which has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was commissioned by Amir Temur to increase his standing among the area. The mausoleum was built by Persian masters, though it was left unfinished with the death of Tamerlane. The original scaffolding that would have been used to apply the colored-tile still protrudes from the front entrance.
Administrative divisions
As of 2019, the region was administratively divided into eleven districts and the cities of Arys, Kentau, and Turkestan.
The volume of investments in fixed capital for January-December 2019 was 441.3 billion tenge with an increase of 38.5%. According to the sources of investments financing, the main share is accounted for private investments - 45.1 %, republican and local budgets - 44.9 %, and loans - 9.8 %. Domestic investment amounted to 379.6 billion tenge. Foreign investment - 61.6 billion tenge. tenge.http://www.government.kz/en/news/reviews/development-of-turkistan-region-in-2019-economy-employment-tourism
