Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A ceremony of laying the first stone of the construction of a specialized center for pottery production took place in Rishtan district of Ferghana region, Dunyo reported with reference to the Press Service of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

Rishtan district, located along the route of the ancient Silk Road, has always been famous for its ceramics and was the center of its production in Central Asia. The traditions of national ceramics continue to develop dynamically, passing from generation to generation. Today, more than 20 senior craftsmen live and work in Rishtan, as well as about 7 thousand of their students, each of which provides work for 30 to 50 families - local residents at home are engaged in painting finished products: from household utensils to art ceramics. Thus, without significant investments based on the unique traditions and skills of the Rishtan potters, the broad sections of the population are provided with jobs and stable earnings.

The Center being created will be the beginning of a new stage in the further development of the traditions of local craftsmen. Here creative workshops, exposition galleries, hotels, catering points and other necessary infrastructure will be built.

This complex will also be a key coordinating link in the implementation of a separate investment program aimed at disseminating the successful experience of Rishtan artisans to other regions of the country. The essence of the program is the implementation of 59 projects to create pottery in all regions and cities of the republic, which will provide employment for 75-80 thousand residents of various regions, as well as significantly increase export potential, as more than half of the Rishtan pottery products that have no analogues in the world artisans sold to an external market.

To extend the experience and skills of pottery production in the Rishtan district to other regions of the republic, a schedule has been developed according to which experienced Rishtan craftsmen will go to the pottery enterprises created as part of the investment program, organize production processes and train young specialists. The coordination and financing of projects within the framework of the launched program is assigned to Uzpromstroybank.

In addition, in Ferghana region there are other areas specific to the region, which are characterized by the possibility of attracting the local population to work at home, and also allow increasing export potential. In this regard, 3 additional investment programs have been launched: a program to apply the experience of viticulture in Altyaryk district, a program for growing pomegranates and a program for growing seedlings of fruit and ornamental trees, as well as seedlings of flower crops, based on the experience of the Kuva region.

Within the framework of each of the programs being implemented, specific locations, initiators, and deadlines have been identified. Asaka Bank, JSC National Bank for Foreign Economic Activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and JSIB Ipoteka Bank were identified as responsible for the implementation of these programs