Ferghana Hokim Explores Experience of Istanbul Free Trade Zone

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Khayrullo Bozorov, Hokim of Ferghana Region, visited the Istanbul Industrial and Commercial Free Zone and held a meeting with the management of DESBAŞ, the company overseeing the zone.

The Istanbul Industrial and Commercial Free Zone is the first private land-based free economic zone in Turkey, established in 1994 and managed by DESBAŞ since its inception.

During the meeting, Hokim Bozorov expressed gratitude for the warm welcome, noted the growth of industrial zones in Uzbekistan, including in Ferghana Region, and emphasized the importance of studying Turkish experience to establish partnerships in this area.

The delegation received a presentation highlighting that the Istanbul Free Zone is one of Turkey’s leading zones, with 31 years of experience and a cumulative trade turnover of US$100 billion. Currently, over 300 companies operate in the zone, providing employment for more than 6,000 people. Key industries include solar energy, auto components, maritime equipment, machinery and machine tools, electrical engineering, electronics, chemical production, textiles, and cosmetics.

Investors are offered fully prepared plots with infrastructure, production and warehouse facilities, offices, open storage areas, and comprehensive management and support services. The zone also hosts specialized government bodies, including the Directorate of Istanbul Industrial and Commercial Free Zone under the Turkish Ministry of Trade and the Customs Directorate of the Istanbul Leather Free Zone, serving exclusively its residents.

During the visit, the delegation toured Dyesyn Boya Kimya, a chemical company producing all types of chemicals for the textile industry. Founded in 2022 with US$20 million in investments, the company’s turnover reached US$10 million in 2024, with plans to increase it to US$15 million in 2025. Its in-house research center sets it apart from competitors, and its annual capacity is 17,000 tons of cleaning products. Company head Ibrahim Demir presented new projects and discussed plans to establish production in Uzbekistan.

The delegation also visited Gassero, a company specializing in the production of heating boilers, to study its operations.