The 8th International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange kicked off at the Uzexpocenter.

The 8th International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange kicked off at the Uzexpocenter.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of this biggest forum of manufacturers, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan G.Ibragimov and others noted that the further advancement of a modern, diversified and competitive economy is the principal end sought by Uzbekistan at this stage of development. This process is built on the dynamic continuation with the reforms launched in the wake of national independence, on the modernization, technical and technological renewal of critical sectors, on comprehensive support for local manufacturers as well as entities of small business and private entrepreneurship.

Thanks to the systemic and steadfast realization of the strategy of sustainable development and modernization of the economy, the country’s gross domestic product grew by 8.1 percent in the nine months of this year. The volumes of production of industrial goods, respectively, increased by 8.4 percent, of consumer goods by 11.3 percent, of retail turnover by 14.2 and of paid services by 11.1 percent.

Our country has been making remarkable success in the development of prospective directions of production and the launch of new types of produce on the basis of local raw materials and the further consolidation of cooperation. This allows for successful imports substitution and increasing export potential. One of the effective instruments in addressing these and many other tasks are the annual International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange, held in accordance with President Islam Karimov’s decree outlining measures to further reinforce intra-sector and inter-sector industrial cooperation, signed 12 November 2007.

They help extensively inform about the goods produced in our country, expand the intra-sector and inter-sector interaction, grasping the production of goods imported earlier, and appeal to potential partners and customers from abroad.

It is noteworthy that the procurement of reprocessed raw materials and other commodities, components and equipment, finished goods of manufacturing-technical designation, produced by domestic enterprises, is carried out as part of the International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange for all local consumers on the basis of direct agreements without additional tenders. Thus, 378 local manufacturers took part in the International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange back in 2009, whereas they numbered over 1.3 thousand in 2013.

In the meanwhile, also manifest is the growth dynamics in the number of participants from abroad – from 602 in 2009 to more than a thousand last year. Foreign entrepreneurs within the frameworks of the events get familiar with the industrial potential of our country, elaborate issues pertinent to procurement of goods from manufacturers in Uzbekistan and strike deals for the supply of their own products. At the same time, they have an opportunity to assess the prospects of the establishment of an enterprise of their own or a joint venture in Uzbekistan to produce high-technological goods.

The extensive range and high quality of produce presented here from the first hands, the opportunities to reach beneficial agreements make it possible that within the frameworks of last year’s forum alone, mutually advantageous deals for 6.2 trillion soums were struck for the purchase of products in industrial cooperation. In the meantime, the volumes of export contracts reached 6.3 billion US dollars.

This year, the International Industrial Fair and the Cooperation Exchange are being held in two stages, as the tradition suggests. During the first phase that took place from March to June this year, territorial (regional) and sector-based industrial fairs were held. More than 3.8 thousand enterprises presented there in excess of 19 thousand types of goods. The fairs produced economic agreements for the supply of produce in 2014 within the industrial cooperation for 890.5 billion soums and 260.2 million US dollars for exports.

At the second stage, over 1.7 thousand domestic enterprises, companies and organizations exhibit more than 20 thousand goods and services, including over 600 are new types of products launched within the frameworks of the Localization Program.

“The international status of the Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange speaks of their high prestige, of the attention paid to the growth in the efficiency of manufacturing export oriented goods and to the enhancement of international cooperation,” says the project manager of Romania’s SC Comes SA Alexander Stavila. “Our company specializes in the production of equipment for chemical, metalworking and oil refinery industries, and it intends to establish direct mutually advantageous contacts with Uzbek manufacturers.”

The numerous stands are exposed by enterprises who manufacture radio-electronic and electro-technical equipment and devices.

Among the participants of the forum is the Uzbekenergo state joint-stock company. Its capacities are demonstrated by 10 enterprises who present goods for electro-network construction, electric substations, transformers, foundations for power transmission lines and the electrification of railways, household and industrial power calculators, and fire-resistant materials.

“The creation of extensive opportunities in Uzbekistan for foreign investors, notably in the Angren Special Industrial Zone, has made South Korea’s EG Lightings establish longer-term relations with the Novo-Angren Thermal Power Plant and launch a joint project,” tells the production manager of the JV Egl-Nur Dae Hi Kim. “Currently we are manufacturing power-saving LED lamps for indoor and outdoor lighting. Despite the fact that our enterprise is new to the market of Uzbekistan, we are already closely cooperating with Uzbekistan Railways state joint-stock company, as well as with enterprises of energy sector. At the current fair, we present a novelty to the Uzbek market – flat panel energy-saving lamps for offices.

The effectiveness of the production of quality pharmaceutical goods and the expansion of manufacturing capacities is demonstrated by enterprises of the Uzfarmsanoat state joint-stock corporation. Thus, the Nika Pharm has commissioned this year a new high-tech automated complex for the production of medicines with doubled capacities and investment potential worth 5.35 million US dollars.

One of the exhibition halls of the International Industrial Fair and the Cooperation Exchange is dedicated to the industrial potential of Uzbekistan’s regions. Also, one can encounter here the numerous representatives of small business and private entrepreneurship, who are expected to play a substantial role in the advancement of industrial cooperation and diversification of production.

For five days of the International Industrial Fair and the Cooperation Exchange, more than 60 centralized presentations are projected to be held by industrial giants, of leading production entities, of enterprises of small business and private entrepreneurship, as well as regions. In order to establish and promote business contacts, to shore up entrepreneurship and innovation projects in the sector of material production, participants of the industrial fair are offered a catalogue of industrial products of Uzbekistan for 2014-2015 that includes information on more than 2,300 enterprises of the country and the new import-substituting and localized types of produce manufactured by them.

It stands to be noted that the occasion is held in a business atmosphere, while the well-thought-out scheme of dislocation across production sectors and the comprehensive information allows the participants and guests of the fair to find the objects they are interested in and the official representatives they seek.