OREANDA-NEWS. October 25, 2012. VIII International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair, organized on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, started in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan is the sixth largest cotton producer and the third biggest exporter, has become an active participant of the textile market. VIII International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair that opened at the UzExpoCentre proves the huge interest in development of commercial, industrial and investment cooperation with our country in this area. Representatives of the cotton and textile industries, traders fr om different countries got an opportunity not only to discuss the trends in these spheres, fluctuations in supply and demand for their products, the price situation on the world markets, but also to conclude direct contracts for Uzbek cotton and textiles.

As was noted at the opening ceremony of the fair, widescale economic reforms, carried out in our country on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, which are an integral part of the internationally recognized "Uzbek model" of development, give good results. Due to implementation of the well-thought, consistent policy of our head of state competitiveness of the economy is growing every year, including by improving the efficiency of the national cotton and textile complex, expanding the production of quality products with high added value and increasing its share in the structure of exports.

At present Uzbekistan is among the countries with the fastest growing economy. The stability and the huge potential of the national economy is demonstrated by the fact that even during the global financial crisis, the GDP grew by an average of at least 8.2 percent. Statistics show that this positive trend continues this year as well.

Such high growth rates are attributable also to the national complex of cotton production, processing and marketing, which meets the highest international standards. Its efficiency is rising due to deep structural changes, systemic modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of all links, development of the infrastructure, as well as the widespread adoption of contemporary market mechanisms, which significantly increase the real return on investment.

Uzbek cotton is in great demand in the world market, as it meet the highest requirements. Consequently from year to year the number of participants of the International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair, interested in expanding business contacts with Uzbek partners, is increasing. The first trade fair, held in 2005, was attended by representatives of about 170 trading and textile companies from 30 countries, the number increased to above 660. This year more than one thousand representatives of cotton and textile companies from 38 countries are taking part at the event. The geography of deliveries of Uzbek cotton and cotton-made products has expanded  due to the growing interest in cooperation with Uzbekistan  of not only textile companies in South-East and South Asia, wh ere there is a high demand for our fiber, but also of trading companies from Europe, Latin America and other regions.

- I am honored to participate in such a large international event - said the managing director of the"Cotton Outlook"  international news agency R.Butler. - Our agency monitors the quality of cotton fiber, produced in different countries, studies supply and demand trends. Uzbekistan continues to be one of the six leading suppliers of fiber, consistently maintaining its position in the global market due to the fact that Uzbek cotton meets all international standards and satisfies the broadest customer demand.

Indeed, the advancement of cotton production in Uzbekistan is based on the application of the most advanced agricultural technologies, development new varieties with improved properties and implementation of innovation approaches in the cotton industry. Thus, over the years of independence, the Uzbek breeders have developed 162 varieties of cotton. 45 of them, which are notable for fast ripening, high yield, long and clean fiber, resistant to pests and climatic characteristics of various regions of the country are included in the State Register and are recommended for cultivation. To date, the percentage of high (“oliy”) and good (“yahshi”) classes in the structure of the produced fibers make up 83 percent, and on micronaire - one of the main characteristics - it is in the correct range for the global market.

Certainly, quality cotton, produced in Uzbekistan is the result of the hard-work of our farmers. The system of preferential farm credit has been created and improved, the farmers are provided with seeds, agricultural equipment, fuels and lubricants, purchase prices for their products are rising.

 Cotton cleaning industry has also been modernized rapidly, the latest technologies are being introduced to production process. All ginning plants in different parts of the country have gone through reconstruction and modernization in recent years. As a result, production has increased by more than 22 percent and the quality of the fiber output has improved.

Fair participants may peruse samples of all parties of fibers, produced this season in Uzbekistan.”Sifat” Uzbek Centre of certification of cotton fiber provides a quality guarantee of each bale, purchased at the fair. The center and its regional laboratories are equipped with high-tech HVI systems, which assist the bale inspection. Further modernization of the process is planned for the near future.

As emphasized at the opening ceremony, during the formation of a developed market economy in Uzbekistan and the focus on the production of goods with high added value the textile industry has been developing consistently, new enterprises have been commissioned,  their capacity have been increasing. Accordingly, the volume of deep processing of cotton fiber has risen from 7 percent in the 90s to 40 percent in 2011. Accordingly, in line with calculations, it is expected that 70% of all cotton produced in Uzbekistan will be processed in the country in the nearest future.

The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke at the opening ceremony of VIII International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair.