President of Uzbekistan begins visit to Fergana region

Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: The President of Uzbekistan Shaukat Mirziyoyev is paying a working visit to the Fergana region.

During his visit to the region in May 2022, the head of state got acquainted with the Global Textile Infinity cluster project. Taking into account the instructions given then, the implementation of the project was accelerated. In December last year, textile production was put into operation. The President got acquainted with the activities of this enterprise in the Kushtepa district.

A full cycle of harvesting and processing of cotton has been established here. A large factory worth €132 million was organized, equipment from the Swiss company Rieter Machine Works was installed.

The facility is capable of producing 18 million meters of mixed fabric and 10 million finished products per year. It is planned to export products worth €85 million to European countries and China. To do this, the company has organized a quality control laboratory.

The President pointed out the need to expand the range of finished products, establish partnerships with well-known brands. Energy-efficient enterprises are used in production. Solar panels are being installed on the roof of the factory, which will achieve an energy efficiency of almost 23%.

Currently, the factory employs 1.5 thousand people. In March of this year, the production of woven fabric will begin here. Also, enterprises for the production of yarn and fabrics, as well as for the processing of cotton, are being created in the Uchkuprik district. Then the total number of jobs in the cluster will reach almost 5 thousand.

A center for training and home-based work has also been opened here, which trains the specialists necessary for the enterprise in 4 areas. The President held a meeting on the development of the cotton and textile industry in the Valley regions. Over the past six years, 35 clusters have been created in these regions, more than 150 large projects worth $670 million have been launched.

It should be recalled that on January 26 this year, the President signed a resolution on further support for the activities of cotton clusters. According to the document, clusters are given the opportunity at any time to receive preferential loans for fertilizers, seeds, fuel for growing cotton. They are allowed to independently place cotton varieties, to bring productive varieties from abroad for selection.

Also, 30% of the cost of purchasing laser levels will be covered from the state budget. In order to integrate production and science, scientific organizations in the field of cotton growing and agro-service centers will be assigned to each cluster.

The meeting discussed the practical aspects of these support measures.

Instructions were given to increase the yield of cotton, deep processing of yarn and increase the output of finished products. It was noted that this year there is an opportunity to increase the export of textile products in the Valley regions up to $2.5 billion.

It is emphasized that in accordance with the current trend in the sectors of the economy, clusters must also transfer part of their energy consumption to alternative sources.