Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A delegation of Uzbekistan on a working visit to the United States, headed by Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbayeva, met with President of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Steve Lamar, Dunyo news agency reported.

According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan, at the beginning of the conversation, the American side was informed about the reforms implemented in Uzbekistan in the field of introducing a new cluster approach to the cultivation and processing of cotton, the elimination of child and forced labor in the collection and cultivation of cotton, systemic state support for textile enterprises, as well as new opportunities created after the lifting of the global boycott of Uzbek cotton by the International Coalition Cotton Campaign.

The head of AAFA, Steve Lamar, stressed that Uzbekistan has made incredible progress in a short period of time, becoming a promising market for foreign enterprises and investments. The country can now demonstrate leadership in implementing a business model based on fair procurement practices that ensures decent work at all levels of the supply chain, he said.

According to Steve Lamar, the US textile industry is currently moving at an accelerated pace to new standards for environmental protection, social policy and corporate governance (ESG). “The industry is now placing much greater demands on compliance with labor standards and social standards for any potential suppliers,” said the head of the AAFA.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on coordinating efforts to attract leading retailers and brands from among AAFA members to the work of the upcoming international textile forum in Tashkent.

3the American Apparel and Footwear Association was established in 2000 as a result of the merger of the American Apparel and Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and Footwear Industries of America (FIA). The company’s mission is to help create an environment in which the US apparel industry can operate competitively and profitably in a global economy. AAFA represents more than 1,000 global brands in the apparel and footwear industry, including Versace, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, The Walt Disney Company, LACOSTE, Levi Strauss & Co., DKNY, Gap, Inc., Calvin Klein, Inc., Forever 21, ECCO, The North Face, Tommy Hilfiger USA, Inc. and others. Their annual sales in the US alone are over US$350 billion.