Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Managing Partner of Knauf International Group Manfred Grundke, German Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan Gunther Overfield took part in the ceremony.

In his speech before the honorary guests and employees of the company, Manfred Grundke said that after the reconstruction, production of Knauf plasterboard production will reach over 30 million square meters, and investments in the expansion of the production line reached US$22 million.

A quarter of this sum was invested by Knauf partner in this project - the state German Development Society. For almost 20-year history of activity in Uzbekistan, Knauf’s investments in its two Bukhara enterprises made up US$75 million.

KNAUF brought its technologies and know-how to Uzbekistan, which allowed setting up the production of construction materials of the highest quality in the country. Construction materials produced in Bukhara region will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the country’s economy and increase the export potential of Uzbekistan. The co-chairman of the German-Uzbek Economic Council, Mr. Grundke, noted economic reforms in Uzbekistan contribute to the dynamic development of the country.

Grundke highly appreciated the opportunities of Uzbekistan to implement the program of modular construction, which is developed by Knauf in the CIS countries. The program envisages construction of houses from pre-fabricated building elements. KNAUF is ready to develop this technology in Uzbekistan.

He also responded positively to the proposal of the Prime Minister Mr. Aripov and to further develop the production of KNAUF in Uzbekistan. Currently, the construction of a new plant for the production of dry construction mortars is underway next to the gypsum board plant. Investments in the project will amount to more than US$20 million. Uzbek companies will be employed to implement the project, provided that they meet high standards of construction quality.

After the completion of the next phase of the development of Knauf production in Bukhara region, the investment volume will reach US$100 million. The new production line will be built on the territory of FE KNAUF GIPS BUKHARA. The implementation of the project will double the capacity of Knauf to produce dry mortars.

In his speech, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov thanked the company’s co-owner Nikolaus Knauf, who was present at the opening of the plant, for the fact that the Bukhara plant is in no way inferior in terms of technological equipment and quality of production to a similar Knauf enterprise in Germany, which he inspected last autumn in the Bavarian city of Iphofen.

Mr. Aripov invited KNAUF to start production in other regions of the country and promised full support of the government in development of new projects.