Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The textile industry is one of the drivers of Uzbekistan’s economy. At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, which created an opportunity for investors and business representatives to meet after the pandemic, special attention was paid to the development of the textile and light industry, where participants discussed new projects for the future.

The topic of the business breakfast organized by the Uztekstilprom Association was free of cotton pledge. And this is no coincidence, since March 2022 was truly a historic date for the textile industry of Uzbekistan - the International Labor Organization announced that there are no signs of forced labor in Uzbekistan and the end of the 12-year "cotton boycott" of the international coalition Cotton Campaign.

It should be noted that over the past five years, as in all areas, cardinal changes have taken place in the textile industry, and these reforms are ongoing. During the conference, the parties discussed the points of development of the Uzbek textile industry, promising projects and access to international markets.

The event was attended by more than 150 participants from international organizations and companies, including representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Mission of the European Commission in Uzbekistan, the International Trade Center, GIZ, the International Finance Corporation, BCI, the International Labor Organization, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Textiles and jute of Bangladesh, the Bellegprom Concern, the Korean Institute of Textile Technology, the German Ambassador to Uzbekistan and various organizations and companies from Italy, Spain, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkey, the USA, Kazakhstan and other countries.

Keynote speakers were Maria Teresa Pisani, Project Manager, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Deborah Taylor, Head of Leather Projects, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Ashraf Megahed, Regional Project Manager, International Finance Corporation, Director of Indorama Agro, Deepak Raina, Muzaffar Razzakov, Co-founder of Global Textile Group, where speakers made presentations on building a sustainable value chain in the industry.

In particular, the chairman of the Association "Uztekstilprom" Ilkhom Khaydarov presented to the attention of the participants a new project under the slogan "Irbis Jupm - a new strategy for the development of the textile industry." The program is aimed at introducing various programs in the textile industry, such as "green economy", "digital economy", "sustainable development and transparency", "eco-products".

UNECE representatives emphasized the importance of ensuring stability in the textile and leather industries and working in enterprises according to the principle of "decent work".

Deepak Raina and Muzaffar Razzakov told investors about the development of cotton-textile clusters, which are points of development for the textile industry, and the opportunities created for Uzbek textile enterprises.

In particular, D. Raina noted that Uzbekistan was one of the few countries to process cotton fiber in the country, and there is even a shortage of cotton. In this connection, Indorama Group is considering the possibility of creating a production of synthetic fibers in Uzbekistan.