12.12.2024

On December 12, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on measures to further enhance effectiveness of reforms in textile and leather industries. 

These industries play an important role in providing employment and increasing exports. They employ 430,000 people. The share of light industry in total production is 14 percent and in exports - 16 percent.

However, in the current challenging times, the situation in foreign markets is changing rapidly. This has led to a decrease in export prices: for yarn - by 9 percent, for fabrics - by 15 percent, for finished products - by 13 percent. Moreover, there is a decrease in demand for finished products in the main export directions.

The meeting discussed measures for adapting to these conditions and fully mobilizing internal resources.

From January to November, exports of textile products amounted to $2.6 billion. It was emphasized that the existing capabilities of the industry allow to significantly increase this figure.

It was noted that in the conditions of decreasing prices for cotton fiber in the world market it is essential to increase deep processing of fiber and yarn. For this purpose additional measures of supporting enterprises for manufacturing and dyeing of fabrics are planned. The responsible persons have been tasked to bring the level of yarn processing up to 70 percent.

In addition, the abolition of the 10-percent levy on the export of sheep and goat skins this year allowed to conclude export contracts worth $3 million. It was instructed to continue this practice next year in order to increase the volume of exports.

Reports of responsible persons on measures to provide leather enterprises with raw materials and plans for the future were heard. 

It was pointed out that there is an acute shortage of middle-level personnel in the leather industry - tailors, sewers, craftsmen. Currently, only 167 specialists are annually graduated in this sphere. In this respect, it was proposed to introduce a system of dual training, linking the leading enterprises of Andijan, Namangan, Ferghana, Samarkand and Tashkent regions with local technical schools.

Plans for the next year were announced at the meeting. 

As it was noted, it is planned to attract more than $2 billion of foreign investment in the light industry, implement 82 major projects and create 25 thousand new jobs. It is expected to increase the export of textile products to $4 billion, and leather products - up to $250 million.