XI International Uzbek cotton and textile fair, organized on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, has opened in Tashkent.

XI International Uzbek cotton and textile fair, organized on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, has opened in Tashkent.

The forum has become a new stage in the development of international collaboration in cotton production, processing, transport and sale. Today this traditional international event contributes its fair share to not only development of cooperation of Uzbekistan with large textile companies and leading traders from various countries, but also to strengthening partnership among countries, firms and companies, involved in cotton production, processing, sale and transportation.

Thanks to the fair, world-scale interest in strenthening the existing business links as well as establishing new ones with partners in Uzbekistan has been increasing year by year. While the first International Uzbek cotton fair in 2005 accepted representatives of around 170 companies from 30 countries, the current fair is hosting over 1000 representatives from more than 40 countries. The geography of Uzbek cotton exports has also significantly changed over the last years. The main markets for Uzbek cotton were European countries until 2000, but in the last years exports to China and South-East Asia has also increased.



- Uzbekistan is one of the biggest suppliers of cotton to the world market, while paying significant attention to processing, - noted managing director of «Cotton Outlook» international agency R.Butler. - Due to effective investment policy, the current cotton processing rate amounts to 40 per cent. This trend signals that Uzbekistan is a prospective country for investments, as it has high-quality cotton and workforce, gives benefits and preferences for successful businesses.

Demand for Uzbek cotton may be explained by its high quality, and transparent pricing system, implemented in the last years, on the base of Cotlook A index, which allows avoiding dramatic fluctuations of prices for cotton. Besides, three foreign-trade companies- Uzmarkazimpeks, Uzprommashimpeks and Uzinterimpeks are involves in cotton exports and their representative offices and trading houses abroad ensure stable supplies all year round.

Cotton on offer has high quality indicators, which are improving every year by creating new sorts. Today a whole list of fast-ripening cotton-trees with high crops, length and purity of fiber, sustainable to pests and adapted to climate conditions are grown in our country. All Uzbek cotton of high quality is within the micronaire range on demand in the world market, which is one of the main characteristics of cotton.



One of the latest achievements of our scients has been the technology of gen-knockout, the first in the world. This allowed growing "Porloq" series with sustainable improved qualities. Thanks to this new fiber type has been included in the pricing offers, which is 12 per cent higher than the ordinary fibers.

- Uzbekistan conducts wide-scale studies, directed at generating new varieties of cotton-trees, scientists are provided with all-round support, - says managing director of the International cotton advisory committee (ICAC) J. Sitte. - One of the bright examples is Uzbek scientist's awarding for fundamental studies of cotton-tree genome in the "Researcher of the Year" contest, held annually by our committee.

All samples of fiber, produced by cotton plants of Uzbekistan are on display at the Uzbekistan exhibition center, where the forum is taking place.



In the last years export potential of Uzbekistan has significantly increased, and the structure of supplies to foreign markets has changed due to high value-added products on offer. Currently, textile companies in Uzbekistan are exporting their products to 55 countries in the world and the geography is increasing constantly.

Negotiations on purchasing Uzbek cotton and textiles took place on the first day, in which representatives of producers and foreign-trade companies took part.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.Mirziyoev spoke at the opening ceremony of the XI International Uzbek cotton and textile fair.