Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Light industry enterprises of Uzbekistan exported products for $1.1 billion in 2017, according to preliminary data.

Domestic production was supplied to more than 50 countries of the world, and the share of goods with high added value exceeded 40 percent, podrobno.uz reported.

If in early 2017 there were 293 exporting enterprises, then by the end of the year their number had reached 350.

In addition, the growth of export indicators was facilitated by the activity of 64 trading houses which were opened in foreign countries.

“One of the effective forms of further development of the textile industry will be the creation of clusters. This model implies the organization of a single production cycle, which includes the cultivation of raw cotton, primary processing and its further processing at ginneries with the release of final products,” Uztekstilprom’s representative said.

Experts have already created a draft Concept of development for the medium-term perspective of cotton-textile clusters, taking into account the experience of such facilities in Navoi region.

As many as 34 investment projects on modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of existing and creation of new enterprises with a total export potential of $151.7 million were realized this year in the light industry. At the same time, their total value exceeded $356 million.

To date, about 7,000 enterprises of the industry are operating in the republic. Capacity for production of cotton fiber in the amount of 1.4 million tons has been created, of which about 60 percent is used to meet the needs of domestic textile enterprises.

Textile industry of Uzbekistan is considered to be one of the most dynamic and socially important sectors and ranks high among export-oriented industries of the country’s economy. The Uzbek textile industry is mainly focused on cotton, silk and wool.

One of the policy priorities of Uzbekistan, the world’s fifth-largest cotton exporter, is further development of its textile industry. Annually, the country grows about 3.5 million tons of raw cotton, produces 1.1 million tons of cotton fiber.

Uzbekistan takes consistent steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing. In particular, it is planned to create 112 modern, high-tech industrial factories, expand, modernize and technologically upgrade 20 operating capacities. All this will increase the export potential of the industry up to $2.5 billion a year and create more than 25,000 jobs.

In the period 2010-2014, the textile industry of Uzbekistan received and spent foreign investments worth $785 million while 147 new textile enterprises with participation of investors from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., Turkey and other countries were commissioned. Export potential of these enterprises amounted to $670 millions.

Currently, Uzbekistan continues to attract foreign investments for construction of textile enterprises in the country.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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