Mirziyoyev Reviews Leather and Footwear Industry Growth Plan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a presentation on the current state and development prospects of the country’s leather and footwear industry, as well as measures aimed at expanding production and exports.

It was noted that in recent years a set of state support measures has been implemented to increase production capacity in the sector. In the first quarter of the current year, output in the leather industry grew by 25% and reached 962 billion soums. By the end of the year, the target is to increase production to 5.4 trillion soums and exports to US$110 million. By 2030, the sector aims to reach 12 trillion soums in production, US$500 million in exports, and create around 12,000 new jobs.

Despite the progress achieved, significant untapped potential remains in the industry. In particular, the level of deep processing of leather raw materials remains low. While large volumes of hides and wool are collected in the country, only about 30% of sheep and goat skins are processed. Of the 40,000 tons of wool collected annually, only around 6,000 tons, or roughly 15%, is processed.

The presentation also reviewed proposals to increase raw material processing and expand production of finished goods with higher added value. Special attention was given to the creation of specialized leather and footwear industrial zones in the Akhangaran district of Tashkent region and the Shahrihan district of Andijan region.

These zones are planned to include production facilities, engineering infrastructure, logistics centers, as well as design and training centers. Management of the industrial sites will be carried out by a special directorate under the Agency for the Development of Light Industry.

It was separately noted that a modern leather cluster will be established in Akhangaran with environmental requirements taken into account. Currently, around 70% of 32 enterprises in the sector use outdated wastewater treatment facilities, and there is no unified centralized system. The new project envisages the construction of centralized treatment facilities with the capacity to reuse up to 8,000 cubic meters of treated water per day.

Among the priority directions is also the expansion of the raw material base. Proposals include centralizing imports of leather raw materials through a “single window” system, compensating transportation costs, and ensuring access to working capital for enterprises.

Measures to improve the collection and primary processing system for small livestock hides were also considered. Specialized collection and processing points are planned in the Navoi, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Tashkent regions.

To increase wool processing, a project for a new complex with a capacity of up to 30,000 tons per year is planned in Syrdarya region. Its launch is expected to create a full production cycle from raw materials to finished goods, increase value added, and expand export opportunities.

Plans to increase footwear production, including specialized products, and strengthen cooperation with foreign partners were also discussed. Particular attention was given to artificial leather production. It was noted that global demand for such materials is growing due to environmental and economic factors.

In Uzbekistan, seven projects are planned for the production of artificial leather with a total capacity of up to 50 million linear meters, which is expected to cover a significant share of domestic demand and increase export potential.

The President emphasized that the benefits provided to the sector must be accompanied by concrete calculations and practical results at the level of each enterprise. Relevant ministries and regional authorities were instructed to ensure financial recovery of enterprises, full utilization of capacities, and support for the production of competitive, high value-added goods.